DINA for the issue of February 11, 2014

	February 11, 2014 | Rabi-ul-Saani 10, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
PM seeks provinces’ support for privatisation By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: The government received on Monday approval from the four chief ministers to go ahead with privatisation of the power sector. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the 25th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which was attended by the chief ministers of all the provinces.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks down 426.57 Points: KARACHI, February 10 : At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was 26255.21, 426.57 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, February 10: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 106.20 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Gas shortage after blasts brings misery to Punjab By Khalid Hasnain LAHORE: Civic, industrial and commercial activities almost came to a halt as most areas of Punjab passed Monday without gas due to an explosion in three main pipelines in Rahimyar Khan the previous day. Gas authorities say the situation will start improving from Tuesday (today). “It is perhaps the worst-ever gas pipeline blast in Punjab as it caused over 45 per cent gas shortfall (700mmcfd) in the 1650mmcfd quota allocated for the province in winter. Before the incident, 950mmcfd was flowing in the blown-up pipelines,” Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Dawn on Monday.
Four women killed in suicide attack By Ali Hazrat Bacha PESHAWAR: Four women died and three others suffered injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a suburban village near Ring Road on Monday. Two men were also injured. The blast damaged the house owned by one Gulzar Khan in Garhi Esakhel.
Negotiator hopeful of ceasefire By Zulfiqar Ali PESHAWAR: Prof Muhammad Ibrahim, a member of the Taliban’s negotiating committee, claimed on Monday that both the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had indicated their willingness for a ceasefire. “Both sides have expressed willingness for a ceasefire which is expected in the next few days,” he said at a press conference after returning from North Waziristan, where he met members of the TTP Shura.
Govt team briefs PM on TTP talks By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: Government negotiators briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday on their meeting with the Taliban committee held last Thursday and about their upcoming interaction between the two committees any time soon. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddqui, who is coordinator of the government committee, said: “An audience was due with the prime minister after our first meeting with the Taliban team of peace negotiators last Thursday.”
Sindh opposes sale of distribution companies By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah opposed privatisation of electricity distribution companies in a meeting of the Council of Common Interests held in Islamabad on Monday. According to sources, the federal government, in pursuance of its general policy of privatisation in accordance with its commitment to the International Monetary Fund, presented its case for privatisation of the distribution companies but failed to evolve consensus.
Ashraf axed again, Sethi back as PCB chief By Mohammad Yaqoob LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday — the second time in eight months that Zaka Ashraf was shown the door. In May, a one-member bench of the Islamabad High Court had upheld a petition challenging his appointment as PCB supremo.
The lookalikes By Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui The abaya clad-women are perplexed for a moment when they stop by at a bookstall at the Ibne Qasim Park in Clifton on Sunday evening where Waseemuddin popularly known as Musharraf is appearing to publicise the bookshop that has put up the stall. He breaks into a broad smile as if he knows that they have recognised him. The women’s expressions change into laughter when it dawns on them that it is former president Pervez Musharraf’s lookalike. “Main darta varta kisi se nahin houn,” they remark and guffaw loudly. The women then request him to hold their babies while they take photos with their mobiles. He sportingly takes their little ones and poses, and then fishes out a visiting card saying: “If you arrange any function for your children, do remember me.”
19 FC men injured in attack by militants By Saleem Shahid QUETTA: At least 19 Frontier Corps personnel were injured, three of them seriously, when a bomb placed by militants near Sibi exploded when three FC vehicles were passing through the area. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.
Smokescreen masks NLC case By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: Along with all the other challenging tasks left to him by his predecessor, army chief General Raheel Sharif will also have to complete the much-publicised inquiry that is pending into allegations of financial mismanagement committed within the National Logistics Cell (NLC) between 2004 and 2008, estimated to have resulted in losses to the tune of Rs2 billion. The ministry of defence recently conveyed to the new public accounts committee (PAC) of the National Assembly that because of the change of command, the matter was still under investigation and that the outcome would be furnished in the due course of time. Syed Khursheed Shah of PPP, who heads the PAC, sought the information from the ministry of defence.
Seven troops injured in N. Waziristan attacks By Our Correspondent MIRAMSHAH: Six soldiers and one officer were wounded in two acts of terrorism in Dathakhel area of North Waziristan Agency on Monday, officials said. They said an improvised explosive device exploded near a military truck in Dathakhel near Afghan border, injuring six soldiers.
Three teachers shot dead in Hangu By Our Correspondent KOHAT: Three schoolteachers were shot dead by two suspected militants in the Kach Banda area of Hangu district on Monday, officials said. Syed Khalil Hussain, Faqir Hussain and Mohammad Khan were returning home from the Government Primary School in Kach Banda after the school time when gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire, killing them on the spot.
Man killed in landmine explosion By Our Staff Correspondent QUETTA: A man was killed and three others were injured in two landmine blasts in Bakhar and Pirkoh area of Dera Bugti district on Monday. Levies’ sources said that two people riding a motorcycle were hit by a landmine planted by unknown people at the roadside in Bakhar area. The blast killed one man and injured the other. The injured was taken to a hospital.
Musharraf subject to army act: Ranjha By Malik Asad ISLAMABAD: A lawyer defending retired General Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case said on Monday that the former president could have been court-martialled in 2008 when he was subject to the army act, but certain quarters circumvented it so that he could be tried by civilian judges instead of a military court. “The federal government could have commenced proceedings of high treason against Gen Musharraf in December 2008 after the former army chief had resigned and could be court-martialled for holding the Constitution in abeyance, but it circumvented the trial in order to take away the legal defence available to him,” Dr Khalid Ranjha, counsel for Gen Musharraf, said during the hearing of a petition seeking the transfer of high treason case from the special court to a military court.
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