DINA for the Issue of March 09, 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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March 09, 2012 Friday Rabi-us-Sani 15, 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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Money arranged at behest of Ghulam Ishaq, Aslam Beg: Habib
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, March 8: A frail-looking Younus Habib, who headed the now defunct Mehran Bank, spilled the beans in the Mehrangate-IJI case on Thursday when he revealed in his first-ever statement before the Supreme Court that he had been forced by former president late Ghulam Ishaq Khan and former army chief Aslam Beg to arrange Rs340 million in the "supreme national interest".

Mr Habib, who was on wheelchair, said he had also been jailed for serving the "so-called supreme national interest"...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/younus-habib-says-money-arranged-at-behest-of-ghulam-ishaq-aslam-beg-rs340m-lavished-in-national-interest.html


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SC gives March 21 deadline to PM for writing Swiss letter
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, March 8: In an unexpected twist the Supreme Court sent shivers down the spine of many in the government when it categorically stated that the contempt case against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would not overshadow the NRO verdict. The court summoned a report from the prime minister on the implementation of the judgment.

A seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk was hearing on Thursday contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister for not pursuing in Switzerland graft cases which also involved President Asif Ali Zardari...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/sc-gives-march-21-deadline-to-pm-for-writing-swiss-letter.html


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WHO RECEIVED HOW MUCH
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According to Younus Habib:
•Rs140 million was paid through Gen Beg to politicians;

•Rs70 million to former chief minister Sindh Jam Sadiq Ali;..

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/who-received-how-much.html


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Baloch leaders in no mood to accept talks offer
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By Kalbe Ali
ISLAMABAD, March 8: The recent government offer for talks with Baloch nationalist leaders appears to be heading nowhere as most of them have rejected it, saying they have no trust in the rulers.

"This is a trap and our leaders, including Brahamdagh Bugti, will not return; the government did the same in the 1960s when they invited the Baloch leaders for talks and later persecuted them. The rulers also tricked Nawab (Akbar Khan) Sahib," Shahzain Bugti, a leader of the Jamhoori Watan Party, told Dawn...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/baloch-leaders-in-no-mood-to-accept-talks-offer.html


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Massive power rate hike on the cards
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, March 8: Taking a U-turn on its 'principled stand', the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is likely to increase electricity tariff by a massive 83 per cent (Rs6.50 per unit) for billing month of April, the single largest increase in the country's history, under the monthly fuel adjustment mechanism.

The unprecedented increase in power tariff will break Nepra's own record of Rs3.03 per unit increase allowed a few days ago to be recovered during the billing month of March. The combined effect of the two increases (to be recovered in March and April) will translate into an additional burden of Rs9.53 per unit on all consumers — up by about 123 per cent...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/massive-power-rate-hike-on-the-cards.html


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Strike in T.M. Khan against Waheeda's disqualification
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Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, March 8: On the call of the local chapter of PPP, a strike was observed on Thursday in all the towns of Tando Mohammad Khan district in protest against the decision of the Election Commission (EC) to bar Waheeda Shah from elections for two years.

Ms Shah, a PPP candidate for the PS-53 constituency, slapped EC staff during by-elections on Feb 25 and a case was registered against her. Subsequently, the EC not only disqualified her for two years but also cancelled the results of the elections in which she polled the most votes...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/strike-in-t-m-khan-against-waheedas-disqualification.html


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SC to frame charges of contempt against Awan
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, March 8: The Supreme Court decided on Thursday to frame contempt charge against former law minister Babar Awan for his media jibe at the judiciary.

Mr Awan and some federal ministers launched a tirade against the apex court at a press conference on Dec 1, 2011, soon after it had ordered an inquiry into the memo scandal by Tariq Khosa and attacked the family of a sitting SC judge for being brother of Mr Khosa...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/sc-to-frame-charges-of-contempt-against-awan.html


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Do more mantra doesn't go down well in Pakistan: envoy
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, March 8: When Pakistan is asked to do more in the war against terror, it does not go well with the Pakistanis because "we are doing what we can", says Ambassador Sherry Rehman.

"We will respect the time that it takes them" to complete a parliamentary review of Pakistan's relations with the US and "we look forward to hearing from them when they're ready," says State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/do-more-mantra-doesnt-go-down-well-in-pakistan-envoy.html


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Senate gets new rules of business
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By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, March 8: After about 24 years, the Senate approved on Thursday new rules of business, making it mandatory for ministers to be in the house during the question hour, introducing 'prime minister's question hour' and abolishing discretionary powers of chairman to appoint the leader of opposition.

Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, head of the Standing Committee on Rules and Privileges, tabled the revised rules which were unanimously approved by the house...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/senate-gets-new-rules-of-business.html


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Gilani asks Malik to visit Balochistan
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By Khawar Ghumman
ISLAMABAD, March 8: Following a lukewarm response to the government's proposal to hold an all-party conference on the issue of Balochistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday asked Interior Minister Rehman Malik to visit the violence-hit province to supervise the implementation of the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package there.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the decision to ask the minister to proceed to Quetta and "take further steps to implement the package" was taken by Mr Gilani after meeting Mr Malik...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/gilani-asks-malik-to-visit-balochistan.html


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CM assails workers' murder
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By Malik Asad
QUETTA, March 8: Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani condemned on Thursday the killing of labourers in Kech district and termed the incident a barbarian act.

In a statement, he directed law-enforcement agencies to utilise all resources for the early arrest of those involved in the killing of innocent people...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/cm-assails-workers-murder.html


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Law urged to resolve missing persons issue
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By Amjad Mahmood
LAHORE, March 8: Urging the government to work on a legislation to regulate the role of security agencies, the Pakistan Muslim League-N has suggested that a special parliamentary committee should monitor what progress has been made in efforts to resolve the missing persons issue and recommend additional measures for the purpose within two months.

The suggestion is contained in a resolution submitted by the party to the National Assembly secretariat on Thursday...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/law-urged-to-resolve-missing-persons-issue.html


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Storm may intensify, says Suparco
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KARACHI: The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) on Thursday said the storm could intensify by Friday.

A statement on Thursday said the Suparco was monitoring the effects of the geomagnetic storm through its Space Weather Monitoring Facilities...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/storm-may-intensify-says-suparco.html


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Biggest solar storm in years hits Earth
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WASHINGTON, March 8: One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth on Thursday, but scientists said the planet could have lucked out.

Hours after the storm arrived, officials said there were no reports of problems with power grids, satellites or other technologies that are often disrupted by solar storms...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/biggest-solar-storm-in-years-hits-earth.html


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Osama's widows booked for illegal stay
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, March 8: After keeping them in custody for about 10 months, the government has registered a case against adult relatives of Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden who was killed in Abbottabad by US commandos on May 2 last year.

Three widows and eight children of Osama, who had been taken into custody by security departments, have been brought to Islamabad from an unspecified place...

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/09/osamas-widows-booked-for-illegal-stay.html


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Karachi Stocks Up 11.32 Points:
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KARACHI, Mar 08: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 13256.27, up 11.32 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Mar 08: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 91.1 to the US Dollar in the
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