DINA for the issue of May 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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May 29, 2012 Tuesday Rajab 07, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

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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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Petitions filed in SC: PML-N & PTI want Gilani disqualified
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, May 28: For the first time in Pakistan's parliamentary history, a ruling by a National Assembly speaker has come under attack — in the Supreme Court. On Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan challenged in the court National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza's May 24 ruling that saved Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from being disqualified as member of the lower house of parliament.

Both the petitioners claimed that Article 184(3) of the Constitution had been breached by her ruling. The article ensures that the Supreme Court has "original jurisdiction" -- i.e. the power to hear the original case, rather than merely review an already-existing decision...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/petitions-filed-in-sc-pml-n-pti-want-gilani-disqualified/


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PPP, MQM reject call for Mohajir province
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By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI, May 28: Accusing Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif of hatching a conspiracy to divide Sindh, a four-member ministerial committee of the Pakistan People's Party has ruled out the possibility of holding dialogue with elements demanding a Mohajir province.

The committee was constituted at a recent cabinet meeting by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to look into causes of deteriorating situation in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, following a series of demonstrations held by the previously unknown Mohajir Sooba Tehrik and an attack on a procession of the Awami Tehrik...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/ppp-mqm-reject-call-for-mohajir-province/


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Nine killed in Karachi
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By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI: In what appears to be a renewed wave of killings in Karachi after a brief lull, gun attacks in different areas left at least nine people, including an SP and a doctor friend of his, dead on Monday.

The Sindh police chief described the firing on the SP as an act of targeted killing. He said the attack could be linked to the victim's participation in the Karachi Operation though investigation was under way to ascertain the exact motive...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/nine-killed-in-karachi/


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Seven bodies found in Balochistan
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By Saleem Shahid
QUETTA, May 28: Seven bullet-riddled bodies were recovered on Monday from Quetta, Khuzdar and Dera Bugti areas.

"Three tortured bodies stuffed in a bag were found in the Ferozabad area of Quetta," police said, adding that people of the area informed them about dumping of the bodies...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/seven-bodies-found-in-balochistan/


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US, Pakistan working on Nato route compromise
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, May 28: The United States and Pakistan are working on a compromise formula to resolve the Nato supply routes dispute which will require the United States to rebuild the highways damaged by Nato convoys, US sources told Dawn.

In return, Pakistan will drastically reduce its demand for an increase in charges for overland deliveries of American military supplies to Afghanistan, from $5,000 to $300-500 a truck.Although Pakistan has not yet quoted a price, US defence officials have said that Islamabad is demanding up to $5,000 a truck, up from $250 per truck before the closure...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/us-pakistan-working-on-nato-route-compromise/


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The government's last budget
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By Khurram Husain
When Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh stands up to deliver the budget speech on June 1st, in a sense he will be making history. No other civilian government has delivered five consecutive budget speeches in parliament before.

But this historic moment will afford no opportunity for grandstanding of any sort. If early reports about the speech are true, it seems Mr Shaikh will be in a bit of a hurry to deliver his lines and quickly resume his seat amidst a thunderous uproar from the opposition...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/the-governments-last-budget/


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Budget team mulls tax relief, revised revenue target
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ISLAMABAD, May 28: The government has decided to impose 5 per cent tax on monetised transport facility of senior government officers, unlike private salaried class whose salary, perks and allowances are subject to up to 20 per cent of income tax.

A senior government official told Dawn on Monday that the ministry of finance had reviewed up to 95 per cent of taxation proposals on the basis of directives of the political leadership to announce a 'people-friendly' budget, adding that some downward revision in tax target might be required...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/budget-team-mulls-tax-relief-revised-revenue-target/


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Judiciary can't be left unbridled, says CJ
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ISLAMABAD, May 28: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said the judiciary has to win public confidence through its performance and by giving quality judgments.

Addressing an international conference of jurists on 'Rule of law" and a meeting for presentation of International Jurists award in London on Monday, he said although the judicial organ of the state was independent in its judicial functions, it could not be left unbridled and without any accountability...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/judiciary-cant-be-left-unbridled-says-cj/


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Coalition partners seek uplift schemes
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By Khawar Ghumman

ISLAMABAD, May 28: With the government set to present its fifth budget on June 1, coalition partners are pressurising the PPP to spare adequate funds for new and ongoing development projects in their constituencies.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his financial team separately met legislators from the MQM, ANP and Fata on Monday and listened to their lists of priority projects which they wanted to be completed before the general elections...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/coalition-partners-seek-uplift-schemes/


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Dr Afridi made scapegoat, alleges brother
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Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, May 28: A brother of Dr Shakeel Afridi sentenced to 33 years in prison for helping the CIA trace down Osama bin Laden has denied all charges levelled against his brother.

"My brother is innocent and has done nothing wrong. He has been made a scapegoat. He did everything in the larger interest of the country," Jamil Afridi said at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/dr-afridi-made-scapegoat-alleges-brother/


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ISI chief postpones US visit
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, May 28: A long anticipated visit by Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, chief of the Inter Services Intelligence, to the United States has been rescheduled for early next month.

The general, who took over reins of the premier spy agency in March, was expected to travel to the US this week for meeting CIA director David Petraeus, but put off the trip at the eleventh hour. The exact reason for postponement remained unclear...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/isi-chief-postpones-us-visit/


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Three killed in Kurram bus attack
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By Our correspondent
PARACHINAR, May 28: Three people were killed and nine others injured on Monday when armed men attacked a bus with grenade and gun near Charkhel village in Lower Kurram Agency.

Sources said the gunmen had their faces covered and lobbed the grenade into the bus going to Peshawar from Parachinar. The assailants who were in a car opened fire on the bus when it stopped...

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/three-killed-in-kurram-bus-attack/


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India test-fires surface-to-air Akash missile
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BALASORE (India), May 28: India test-fired two indigenously developed surface-to-air anti-aircraft `Akash' missiles from the integrated test range at Chandipur near here, reports said on Monday.

The double test-fire came after trials of the missile with a range of 25km on May 24 and 26. The missile is capable of carrying a warhead of 60kg.

http://dawn.com/2012/05/29/india-test-fires-surface-to-air-akash-missile/


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Karachi Stocks Up 106.45 Points:
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KARACHI, May 28: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14031.51, up 106.45 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, May 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 93.1 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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