DINA for the issue of July 21, 2013

	Sunday July 21, 2013 | Ramazan 11, 1434
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Heavy rain floods cities, villages in Punjab By Intikhab Hanif LAHORE, July 20: A spell of torrential rain began in the upper parts of the country and northeast Punjab on Saturday, causing urban flooding, inundating villages and swelling major rivers and nullahs in the Sialkot region.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995
Better ties needed with neighbours, says Nawaz By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, July 20: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked the Foreign Office to strive for a ‘peaceful neighbourhood’ by improving ties with neighbouring countries. The prime minister gave the instructions on Saturday during his first visit to the Foreign Office since assuming the office last month.
Four FC men and 15 Taliban killed in Khyber clashes By Ibrahim Shinwari LANDI KOTAL, July 20: Four personnel of the Frontier Corps and 15 Taliban were killed during an operation against militants in Akkakhel area of Khyber Agency on Saturday. Codenamed Khyber-2, the operation was launched against Taliban hideouts in Zawa and Khurmatung areas of Akkakhel in Bara on Friday after insurgents bombed a checkpost of the security forces, killing two Frontier Corps personnel.
Presidential election: PPP rejects PML-N’s plea for consensus By Amir Wasim ISLAMABAD, July 20: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz short-listed on Saturday three candidates — former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain, former chief justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui and veteran party leader Sartaj Aziz — for the coming presidential polls. Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Mohammad Asif told Dawn that he had proposed the three names to the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, and asked him to agree on any one of them.
Three dead, official hurt in Karachi blasts By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, July 20: A government official survived a bomb attack on his vehicle on a busy road here on Saturday that left his police guard dead hardly an hour before another bomb went off in a house due to ‘mishandling’ by suspected terrorists in another area, killing two of them. According to police, the vehicle of Matanat Ali Khan, Karachi’s metropolitan commissioner, was attacked near Essa Nagri after he left his office at Civic Centre for home almost an hour before sunset. Initially the police described the incident as a grenade attack, but the impact of the explosion forced them to change their opinion.
Articles 62, 63 to come into force By Iftikhar A. Khan ISLAMABAD, July 20: In a significant development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday decided to make disqualification clause of the constitution applicable to presidential candidates. The ECP will obtain a declaration from presidential candidates affirming that they fulfil the qualifications specified in Article 62 of the constitution and that they are not hit by any of the disqualifications specified in Article 63, or any other law for the time being in force for being elected as the president of Pakistan.
New COAS: critical decision coming up for PM By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD, July 20: Before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s proverbial honeymoon period is over he will be faced with critical decisions like succession in the army command and rotating the ceremonial chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee among other services. When these decisions are to be made, Prime Minister Sharif, who is in office for a record third non-consecutive tenure, will find himself at the same crossroads he has been at twice (in 1993 and 1998) – in fact thrice if his botched attempt to appoint Gen Ziauddin Butt as army chief in 1999 is also counted.
4 assets of EOBI’s ex-chief seized, court told By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, July 20: During an ongoing investigation into the Rs40 billion Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) scam, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed and seized four properties in different cities belonging to its former chairman, Zafar Iqbal Gondal. Submitted by Additional Director General for Law Mohammad Azam Khan to the Supreme Court, a preliminary inquiry report suggests that Mr Gondal owns land measuring 537 kanals in Mandi Bahauddin, a farmhouse spread over 19 kanals in Islamabad, a plot measuring four kanals and eight marlas in Banni Galla area of Islamabad, a plot measuring 556 square yards in Sector E-12 of Islamabad and a Prado Land Cruiser which was purchased by the EOBI allegedly in violation of rules.
Seven injured in Kashmir clashes during curfew SRINAGAR, July 20: Protesters clashed with troops in several parts of India-held Kashmir for the second straight day on Saturday, defying a curfew imposed to restrain public anger over the killing of four villagers in the disputed region. Police officials alleged that protesters threw rocks, and that police and paramilitary forces used batons and teargas and fired warning shots of live ammunition to control the crowds.
Israel to release Palestinian prisoners JERUSALEM, July 20: Israel announced on Saturday that it would release some Palestinian prisoners as a “gesture”, after the two sides agreed to lay the groundwork to resume peace negotiations frozen for three years. Some of those to be released had been held in prisons for decades, Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said.
Balochistan’s 17 districts without power supply for three days By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, July 20: Balochistan’s 17 districts, including several parts of Quetta, are without electricity for the past three days because the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) has not yet started repair work on four pylons blown up by gunmen in the Kachhi district on Thursday. Official sources told Dawn on Saturday that Qesco had not initiated repair work for security reasons.
Refugees vent anger over Australian govt’s move SYDNEY, July 20: Buildings were razed as hundreds of unfortunate asylum-seekers escaped detention during riots at an Australian refugee facility on Nauru, witnesses said on Saturday, following the launch of a hardline immigration crackdown. Australia announced on Friday that boat people would no longer be resettled in the country and all future unauthorised arrivals would be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea for permanent resettlement.
Five-year plan to be launched in December: Transformation of economy envisioned By Amin Ahmed ISLAMABAD, July 20: The government announced its development strategy on Saturday, including a five-year plan for 2013-18 and a ‘Perspective Plan 2025’ with the ultimate goal of making Pakistan a ‘developed country’ by the completion of 100 years of its existence in 2047. The Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, said at a news conference that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved restructuring of the Planning Commission and his ministry would now be called the ‘ministry of planning, development and reforms’.
Correction Apropos a story headlined “Shareholder’s court plea raises gas price” published in Dawn on July 9, it was inadvertently reported that Mirza Mahmood Ahmad was a director on board of the SSGC on behalf of AKD Securities, one of the leading private shareholders. Mr Mirza is a director on the SSGC board and at the same time acting as counsel for the SSGC, but he is not representing AKD Securities. AKD Securities is a minority shareholder of SSGC, having no nominee on the board. The error is bona fide and regretted.
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