DINA for the Issue of February 29, 2012

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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February 29, 2012 Wednesday Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
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(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2012

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.


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Acts of terrorism can't be ignored, agencies tell SC
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The Inter-Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence explained before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that they treated court orders with great sanctity, but could not shut their eyes to rebellious acts of internal and external elements involved in serious cases of terrorism.

A statement was submitted on behalf of the agencies two days ahead of a scheduled hearing by the Supreme Court on production of seven of 11 suspects picked up by intelligence agencies for their alleged involvement in the October 2009 attacks on the GHQ and the ISI's Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi. Four of the 11 have died in mysterious circumstances...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/case-of-missing-people-acts-of-terrorism-cant-be-ignored-agencies-tell-sc.html


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'Saving Face' woman wants son to be plastic surgeon
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By Malik Tahseen Raza
MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 28: Rukhsana Bibi, a central character in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's 'Saving Face', is yet to see the film but is happy to know that it has won an Oscar.

"Even during its making, Sharmeen was confident that her film will win international recognition," she says...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/saving-face-woman-wants-son-to-be-plastic-surgeon.html


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Passengers hauled off buses and gunned down: 16 killed in Kohistan sectarian attack
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By Nisar Ahmad Khan
MANSEHRA, Feb 28: Gunmen in military uniform forced people going from Rawalpindi to Gilgit to disembark from buses in Kohistan's Harban area on Tuesday and gunned down 16 of them after checking their names on their ID cards.

"Sixteen people were killed in the incident. The bodies were handed over to the deputy commissioner of Chilas after autopsy at Shitial hospital," Mohammad Ilyas, district police officer, Kohistan, told reporters...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/passengers-hauled-off-buses-and-gunned-down-16-killed-in-kohistan-sectarian-attack.html


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President signs 20th Amendment into law
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: President Asif Ali Zardari signed on Tuesday the 20th Constitution Amendment Bill 2012 into law for creating an independent election commission and an impartial caretaker set-up for holding general election.

Lawyer Maulvi lqbal Haider filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the same day, challenging the amendment on various legal grounds...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/president-signs-20th-amendment-into-law.html


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Govt, PML-N agree to subsidise oil, raise CNG price
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The government and the PML-N agreed on Tuesday to provide Rs15 billion subsidy on petroleum prices over the next three months. As a result, there may not be any increase in prices from March 1.

In return, the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) will be increased by about Rs6 per kg to partially offset the impact of lower revenue on high speed diesel, petrol and kerosene oil and to maintain a CNG-petrol price parity of about 60 per cent, a senior finance ministry official told Dawn...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/govt-pml-n-agree-to-subsidise-oil-raise-cng-price.html


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Cabinet secretary to appear in PM's case
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Defending the prime minister against contempt charges before the Supreme Court, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan ended up on Tuesday calling one witness from his list of three — and that too as a defence witness to present and certify summaries submitted as evidence by the prosecution.

In his earlier submission the counsel had requested summoning of three persons as court witnesses...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/cabinet-secretary-to-appear-in-pms-case.html


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Oil-for-wheat deal with Iran under study
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Iran has offered to provide 80,000 barrels of crude oil to Pakistan on three-month deferred payment.

Prime Minister's special assistant on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain told reporters after a meeting of the National Assembly's standing committee on petroleum that he would visit Tehran in the second week of March to discuss the matter. He said the Iranian offer had been forwarded to the State Bank for advice and expert opinion...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/oil-for-wheat-deal-with-iran-under-study.html


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US to maintain 'crucial ties' with Pakistan: Clinton
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Feb 28: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Senate panel on Tuesday that the United States was winding down the war in Afghanistan but wanted to maintain a challenging but crucial relationship with Pakistan.

In her opening remarks before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, she noted that the State Department and USAID were requesting $51.6 billion for their programmes in the next fiscal year, which begins in October 2012...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/us-to-maintain-crucial-ties-with-pakistan-clinton.html


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'Some officers knew about Osama safe house'
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KARACHI, Feb 28: Mid-ranking Pakistan Army officials may have known that Osama bin Laden had a safe house in the country, leaked material appears to indicate.

According to the BBC World, the claim was made in emails allegedly from US-based security think tank Stratfor, which were published by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/some-officers-knew-about-osama-safe-house.html


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Pak-India cricket ties should be revived: Khar
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ABU DHABI, Feb 28: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Monday called for the resumption of cricket ties with India.

"Pakistan pushes for cricket ties with every country, especially with India," Ms Khar told reporters while watching the third and final Twenty20 between Pakistan and England here on Monday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/pak-india-cricket-ties-should-be-revived-khar.html


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Gilani discusses Balochistan situation with army chief
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: With the world focusing on unrest in Balochistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met on Tuesday army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discussed security situation in the country.

"Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at PM's House today and discussed security situation of the country and the region," a brief press release issued by PM's Office after the meeting said...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/gilani-discusses-balochistan-situation-with-army-chief.html


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Raffiq Butt to succeed Rao as PAF chief
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Air Marshal Tahir Raffiq Butt will succeed retiring Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman as the twentieth chief of Pakistan Air Force next month.

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has advised the president of Pakistan to appoint Air Marshal Tahir Raffiq Butt as the new Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/29/raffiq-butt-to-succeed-rao-as-paf-chief.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 0.79 Points:
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KARACHI, Feb 28: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12744.45, up 0.79 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Feb 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.1 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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