DINA for the issue of November 14, 2013

	November 14, 2013 | Muharram 9, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Sharif keen for Singh to visit Pakistan By Jawed Naqvi NEW DELHI, Nov 13: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen for his Indian counterpart to visit Pakistan before the next Indian elections due by May, but it could all end up as wishful thinking due to imposing problems, not the least their respective hawks and naysayers, informed sources watching this week’s talks between the two countries said on Wednesday.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks Down 15.40 Points: KARACHI, November 13: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 23287.06, down 15.40 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, November 13: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 108.50 to the US Dollar in the open market.
ECP allowed to set new LG poll dates By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Supreme Court put an end to raging arguments over the schedule for local bodies’ elections by taking a step back and acknowledging on Wednesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the provincial governments had demonstrated their commitment to the constitution in this regard. Since a revised poll programme had been issued for the polls in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides the elections in Balochistan on Dec 7, as already fixed, therefore, “we are of the opinion that the ECP and the provincial governments have shown their commitment to the constitution,” the court said.
JI complains to premier over army statement By Amjad Mahmood LAHORE, Nov 13: Insisting that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has overstepped its constitutional bounds by directly addressing a political party, Jamaat-i-Islami says the army is a national and constitutional institution which should follow the policies set by elected representatives of the people. “Directly addressing a politico-religious party (unprecedented in the past) by the Pakistan Army’s tarjuman [public relations department] seems over and above the established constitutional obligations,” says a communiqué written by JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
PTI shows the door to QWP By Intikhab Amir PESHAWAR, Nov 13: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan ended his party’s alliance with the Qaumi Watan Party after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak ‘dismissed’ two QWP ministers on Wednesday on corruption charges. “PTI chairman Imran Khan today issued a strong advisory to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM to pull out of the coalition with the QWP,” a press release issued by PTI’s central media cell said. “Today, two of their ministers were dismissed by the CM,” it added.
20 injured in blasts near Imambargahs in Karachi By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, Nov 13: Three bomb and grenade attacks near Imambargahs in North Nazimabad and North Karachi on Wednesday night left about 20 people injured. The attacks sowed fear in the city on the eve of Ashura processions that have drawn tight security measures across the metropolis. The injured included policemen, Rangers personnel and media persons.
Govt wants to resume talks ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Wednesday Pakistan wants resumption of dialogue with India to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries, including the Kashmir dispute. At his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said Kashmir was the core issue between the two countries and negotiations were the only way to resolve it, adding that Kashmiri leadership should also be allowed to take part in talks.
SBP raises interest rate to 10pc By Shahid Iqbal KARACHI, Nov 13: The State Bank of Pakistan increased on Wednesday the interest rate by 50 basis points to 10 per cent because of high inflation and rising fiscal deficit. The new rate will be effective from Nov 18 for two months.
Minister says talks with Taliban not possible soon By Syed Irfan Raza ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer, has ruled out the possibility of talks between the government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within the next few months. But Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has offered help to revive the peace process and said he would soon convene a tribal jirga somewhere in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in this regard.
ECC shelves proposal to ban onion, tomato exports By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Although the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet expressed concern over sharp increases in prices of kitchen items on Wednesday, political considerations did not let it decide to ban exports of onion and tomato. A senior government official told Dawn that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research had proposed an immediate ban on exports of the two perishable items in view of a sharp increase in their prices.
Four Afghan Taliban killed By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, Nov 13: Four Afghan Taliban were killed in a gunfight with Afghan forces in Helmand province close to Pakistani border on Wednesday. According to security officials posted in the Pak-Afghan border area, Afghan Taliban attacked a checkpost of Afghan forces close to the border.
S. Africa beat Pakistan in T20 DUBAI, Nov 13: South Africa outclassed Pakistan with a commanding nine wicket win in the first Twenty20 international in Dubai on Wednesday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. Dale Steyn took 3-15 in his four hostile overs as Pakistan were restricted to 98-9 — their lowest Twenty20 total against South Africa — after they won the toss and opted to bat.
Afghan opium production hits record, says UN JALALABAD, Nov 13: Afghanistan’s opium production surged this year to record levels, despite international efforts over the past decade to wean the country off the narcotics trade, according to a report released on Wednesday by the UN’s drug control agency. The harvest this past May resulted in a staggering 5,500 metric tons of opium, 49 per cent higher than last year and more than the combined output of the rest of the world.
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