Dina for the issue of 28 April 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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April 28, 2012 Saturday Jumadi-us-Sani 6, 1433
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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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Defiant PM vows not to cede office
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By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, April 27: Armed with the support of his party, allies, and some argument, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took his turn on Friday to hit back hard at his political foes, telling the National Assembly he would not cede office owing to his conviction by the Supreme Court for contempt unless the house disqualified him.

And, while seeking to drive home the argument that he incurred the contempt of court charge for "protecting the constitution", he challenged the main opposition party demanding his resignation to bring a vote of no-confidence against him.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/defiant-pm-vows-not-to-cede-office/


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No re-engagement without apology, Zardari tells US
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, April 27: The United States was told categorically on Friday that progress towards re-engagement would not be possible without an apology over last year's air strikes in which 24 Pakistani troops lost their lives.

"President Asif Ali Zardari has said that after Pakistan has followed the democratic course for re-engagement with the United States …, it was now the turn of the US… to help Pakistan in reaching closure on Salala," said a statement issued by the presidency after Mr Zardari's meeting with a US delegation led by Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/no-re-engagement-without-apology-zardari-tells-us/


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Afghan Taliban to get 'safe passage' for talks
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 27: Pakistan, US and Afghanistan agreed on Thursday to provide 'safe passage' to Taliban militants willing to join reconciliation talks and set up a working group to settle modalities for their unhindered movement.

This was announced by Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani at a press conference addressed by heads of delegations at the 6th core group meeting of the three countries.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/afghan-taliban-to-get-safe-passage-for-talks/


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Nawaz threatens 'all options' to unseat Gilani
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By Amjad Mahmood
LAHORE, April 27: Declaring that the country has been without a legitimate government since the conviction of the prime minister by the Supreme Court, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif called upon Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday to relinquish the 'illegal charge' of office or face 'consequences'.

"After the conviction, Mr Gilani and his cabinet have no constitutional and legal status. Mr Gilani should take pity on this country, constitution, system and democracy and end his 'illegal occupation' of the office of prime minister," Mr Sharif said at a press conference after a consultative meeting with senior leaders of his party.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/nawaz-threatens-all-options-to-unseat-gilani-2/


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Ogra recommends cut in petroleum prices
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, April 27: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) in order to pass on to consumers the benefit of a fall in international market recommended to the government on Friday to reduce by up to Rs4.89 per litre (3.6 per cent) prices of petroleum products in the country with effect from May 1.

A senior government official said the Ogra summary seeking price reduction had been received at the ministry of petroleum and natural resources and a decision on the proposal would be made in consultation with the ministry of finance by Monday.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/ogra-recommends-cut-in-petroleum-prices/


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Four killed in clash near Turbat
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QUETTA, April 27: At least four gunmen were killed in a clash with security forces near Turbat area of Kech district on Friday.

Security personnel arrested seven men after an exchange of fire which continued for over five hours and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/four-killed-in-clash-near-turbat/


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Rental Power Projects: NAB considering plea bargain to recover money
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 27: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recorded on Friday the statement of Information Technology Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case and decided to strike plea bargain deals with all the accused in the scam.

"Under the NAB Ordinance we will go for a plea bargain to recover the money plundered in the scam," NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari said.."...

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/rental-power-projects-nab-considering-plea-bargain-to-recover-money/


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FBR chief hints at tax rates reduction
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By Mubarak Zeb Khan
ISLAMABAD, April 27: Federal Board of Revenue chairman Mumtaz Haider Rizvi said on Friday that no new taxes would be announced in the coming budget and rather a 'newly-evolved' comprehensive policy seeking reduction in tax rates on various commodities would be adopted to accelerate economic activities in the country.

"We will not levy new taxes in the next budget. We may only withdraw the exemptions available to special sectors through statuary regulatory orders (SROs)," he told Dawn, adding that loopholes in the tax machinery would be plugged. He said the budget would focus on measures aimed at attracting the foreign direct investment (FDI) and rationalise duty on various commodities to stimulate economic growth which would help absorb the jobless youth.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/fbr-chief-hints-at-tax-rates-reduction/


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Non-bailable warrants for Shahzain
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QUETTA, April 27: The additional district and sessions judge has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Jamhoori Watan Party's Balochistan chief Shahzain Bugti and his 26 guards.

The Frontier Constabulary arrested Shahzain, grandson of slain Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti, and his 26 guards at Baleli checkpost in 2011 and recovered a huge quantity of illegal arms and ammunition when the JWP leader was coming to Quetta from the border town of Chaman.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/non-bailable-warrants-for-shahzain/


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MQM to back govt: Altaf
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KARACHI, April 27: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has assured Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of full support for what he called the continuity of the democratic dispensation in the country, an MQM press release said on Friday.

Mr Hussain telephoned Mr Gilani and exchanged views with him on the political situation obtaining in the country. He praised the speech Mr Gilani made in the National Assembly on Friday.....

http://dawn.com/2012/04/28/mqm-to-back-govt-altaf/


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