DINA for the issue of May 23, 2013

	Thursday 23rd May 2013 | Rajab 12, 1434
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Global changes not to affect ties: Li By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD, May 22: In a reaffirmation of the customary description of Sino-Pakistan relationship being an “all weather friendship”, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang started his two-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday with a pledge to deepen strategic ties irrespective of the international situation.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks Up 290.90 Points: KARACHI, May 22: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 21458.90, up 290.90 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, May 22: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 99.9 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Zardari, Nawaz revive bonhomie By Syed Irfan Raza ISLAMABAD, May 22: President Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister-in-waiting Mian Nawaz Sharif, heads of rival political parties, met after a long time in the presidency on Wednesday and vowed to promote reconciliation. Mr Sharif was invited to the presidency, along with the heads of other political parties, to a luncheon hosted by President Zardari in honour of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
$15 billion Saudi bailout likely By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, May 22: With an ‘amiable’ government in place, Saudi Arabia is expected to extend a bailout package of about $15 billion to Pakistan’s highly indebted energy sector by supplying crude and furnace oil on deferred payment to enable it to resolve the chronic circular debt issue. A senior government official said the Saudis had been taking reasonable interest in helping out the incoming PML-N government led by Nawaz Sharif.
Caretaker govt introduces Rs152bn ‘mini-budget’ By Mubarak Zeb Khan ISLAMABAD, May 22: In its dying days, the caretaker government has decided to introduce a Rs152 billion ‘mini-budget’ through a presidential ordinance to provide a cushion to the incoming PML-N government. The move came at a time when the new National Assembly is about to start functioning within 10 days and the PML-N government plans to present the federal budget for the fiscal year 2013-14 by mid-June.
SC suspends postings, transfers made by caretaker govt By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, May 22: The Supreme Court dealt on Wednesday a telling blow to the interim government for its bulk transfers/postings and shuffling of top government officials by suspending all appointments perceived to be done outside its mandate. At the same time a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had a word of caution for the incoming PML-N government and asked it to ensure highest standards of transparency in appointments if it wanted to avoid court’s interference.
Imran leaves hospital; advised rest By Our Staff Reporter LAHORE, May 22: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning about two weeks after he suffered injuries in an accident at an election rally. Wearing spinal brace and neck collar, Mr Khan walked unaided from his room on the third floor of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre to the exit on the ground floor.
43 newly elected legislators join PML-N By Our Staff Reporter LAHORE, May 22: Parliamentary ranks of the PML-N further swelled on Wednesday when 43 independent legislators-elect joined it, according to the affidavits the entrants submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). An ECP notification said 12 members-elect of the National Assembly and 31 of the Punjab Assembly had submitted the affidavits. The MNAs-elect are Sardar Awais Khan Leghari (NA-173), Mohammad Raza Hayat Hiraj (NA-156), Mohammad Afzal Khan (NA-74), Sahibzada Mohammad Nazir Sultan (NA-90), Najaf Abbas Sial (NA-91), Mohammad Ijaz Ahmed (NA-108), Mohammad Saddique Khan Baloch (NA-154), Abdur Rehman Khan Kanju (NA-155), Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry (NA-169), Ashiq Hussain Khan (NA-180), Syed Mohammad Asghar (NA-188) and Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar (NA-194).
119 of 256 elected to NA are first timers By Amir Wasim ISLAMABAD, May 22: Though a significant number of candidates have managed to win the elections for the first time, the new National Assembly is still expected to be dominated by old faces. An analysis of results of 263 general NA seats (won by 256 candidates) announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan shows that a total of 119 members will be taking oath as MNAs for the first time after winning the elections on general seats.
Businessman receiving ‘threats from TTP’ By Mohammad Asghar RAWALPINDI, May 22: A wealthy businessman, who is also father-in-law of a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader, has been receiving threats from suspected Taliban who have been demanding Rs100 million to help them in their ‘noble cause of Jihad’. Police said on Wednesday that a well-built, bearded man went to the business offices of Raja Hanif in his absence and delivered a letter and a Universal Serial Bus or USB (a data storage device used in computers) for him.
Altaf cleansing Muttahida of corrupt elements KARACHI, May 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain told his workers on Wednesday that he was purging the party of ‘corrupt and unwanted’ elements and that the cleansing process had already begun. He made the announcement while talking to members of the MQM coordination committee by phone from London.
Mengal says his mandate was stolen QUETTA, May 22: Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal said on Wednesday that had the establishment not stolen the mandate of his party it would have won at least 12 seats of the Balochistan Assembly in the recent elections. The BNP-M has won two seats each in the national and provincial assemblies.
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