DINA for the issue of September 10, 2012

	Monday 10th September 2012 I Shawwal 22, 1433
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Rain batters Punjab; 18 lives lost By Intikhab Hanif LAHORE, Sept 9: Torrential rain pounded several cities in the country, especially in southern Punjab and adjoining areas of Balochistan, on Sunday, claiming at least 20 lives, rendering hundreds of people homeless and washing away embankments of at least three canals.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995
Krishna visits Lahore monument By Our Staff Reporter LAHORE, Sept 9: In scenes reminiscent of the day in 1999 when former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee set foot on Minar-i-Pakistan and said his initiative was aimed at removing Pakistan’s misgivings that India had not accepted, at heart, the creation of this country, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna visited on Sunday the monument to the 1940 Pakistan Resolution. Accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, Mr Krishna read the text of the resolution inscribed on the walls of the Minar. He also wrote a brief note on a guest book.
Fuel prices revised despite panels’ opposition By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: The government increased on Sunday prices of four major petroleum products by up to three per cent and reduced rates for petrol and CNG by up to 4.46 per cent with immediate effect to pass on the impact of international price fluctuation to consumers. The revised prices will remain in place for a week until next Sunday under a weekly pricing mechanism approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, but opposed by the standing committees of the Senate and the National Assembly.
Raja may follow in Gilani’s footsteps By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: The affable ambiance that had developed after Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf appeared before the Supreme Court for the first time in contempt case on Aug 27 may wither away soon because the government now seems unwilling to send any letter to the Swiss authorities. Mr Ashraf, who had assured a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa that he would come up with an amicable solution to the issue in his next appearance on Sept 18, is expected to follow the line adopted by his predecessor and eventually lose his coveted office.
Action group on Balochistan urged By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, Sept 9: Political leaders, lawyers and members of civil society have called upon the federal and provincial governments to set up a “high-powered action group” with a mandate to contact stakeholders, including separatists, to bring an end to unrest in Balochistan. The suggestion was made in speeches at a seminar organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association on Sunday to discuss ways and means to pave the way for a political settlement in the province.
Talks with Afghan govt: Pakistan ready to give Taliban ‘safe passage’ By Anwar Iqbal WASHINGTON, Sept 9: Pakistan has agreed to provide safe passage to the Taliban leaders willing to participate in reconciliation talks with the Afghan government, US and diplomatic sources told Dawn. Separately, a US State Department spokesman said at a briefing that the Obama administration hopes to stay engaged with the Taliban, including the Haqqani network, even though it has designated the group a foreign terrorist organisation.
UN team arrives to get data on the missing By Amin Ahmed ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: A delegation of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances arrived here on Sunday to gather information on cases of missing persons. During its 10-day mission undertaken at the invitation of the government, the UN team will study the measures adopted by Pakistan to prevent and eradicate enforced disappearances and issues related to truth, justice and reparation for the victims.
45 organisations banned in 11 years By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: Forty-five politico-religious organisations have been banned by the government in the past 11 years. Although Interior Minister Rehman Malik has been claiming that the banned organisations are under strict observation, they are freely operating in the country.
NGO welcomes restoration of visas By Our Reporter ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: Save the Children, an international NGO, has welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw an order revoking the visas of its six expatriate staff in Pakistan. The organisation’s spokesman Ghulam Qadri on Sunday referred to Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement in this regard and said the move would provide an opportunity to continue discussions with the government to clarify any misunderstandings about its work in the country.
Bodies of 19 militants found in Salarzai KHAR, Sept 9: The security forces on Sunday claimed to have recovered 19 bodies of militants during a search operation in areas along the border in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency. All the militants active in the area had been pushed back into Afghanistan, they said.
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