DINA for the issue of April 17, 2014

	April 17, 2014 | Jamadi-ul-Saani 16, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
PPO to be softened, PM assures Zardari By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: With an important Senate session under way, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met former president Asif Ali Zardari here on Wednesday and agreed to review the controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) along with other anti-terrorism laws after taking the parties in parliament on board.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks up 362.38 Points: KARACHI, April 16: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was 29458.15, up 362.38 points. Forex Update : KARACHI, April 16 : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 98.25 to the US Dollar in the open market.
TTP ends ceasefire, says talks option open By Our Correspondent MIRAMSHAH: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it was not extending its ‘ceasefire’, but said it would keep the dialogue option open provided the government took steps indicating ‘clear progress’ on its two key demands. “The TTP central shura has unanimously decided not to extend the ceasefire”, its spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement, adding that the government had not demonstrated seriousness about Taliban’s demands for creation of a demilitarised peace zone and release of non-combatants.
Main accused will be court-martialled, govt tells SC By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD: The case of 35 persons, who went missing from an army detention facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reared its head again in the Supreme Court on Wednesday when the federal government submitted a statement suggesting that the main accused — a junior army officer — would be court-martialled under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952. At the last hearing, the court was told that an FIR had been registered against Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig and others — who were posted at the army’s internment centre in Malakand Fort — for removing 35 individuals from the detention facility.
MQM protests in Senate against ‘victimisation’ By Amir Wasim ISLAMABAD: Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout from the Senate on Wednesday in protest against the alleged victimisation of party workers by law-enforcement agencies in Karachi. Before announcing the walkout, retired Col Tahir Mashhadi called for a judicial probe into the alleged killings and disappearances of MQM workers.
Govt ‘unwilling’ to widen treason trial By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: Indicating the federal government’s unwillingness to widen the scope of the treason case against retired general Pervez Musharraf, lead prosecutor Akram Sheikh said on Wednesday that it was not feasible to implicate the civilian and military officials who were alleged to have abetted the dictator in his proclamation of emergency in 2007. Responding to arguments made by defence counsel Farogh Nasim a day earlier, Sheikh denied the existence of any record proving that Musharraf had consulted civil or military leaders prior to taking the unconstitutional steps of November 3, 2007.
Security committee meets today By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD: The government has called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) for Thursday. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a meeting on National Security on April 17 (Thursday) at his official residence,” Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Six die, 280 missing as ferry sinks off S. Korea JINDO (South Korea): South Korean rescuers and dive teams worked frantically under floodlights as fears rose for nearly 280 people missing after a ferry sank on Wednesday with 462 on board, mostly high school students bound for a holiday island. National disaster agency officials said 179 people had been rescued, leaving about 280 “unaccounted for”. There were six confirmed deaths, including a female crewmember and a student.
3G and 4G auction to yield $1.3bn, says Dar By Mubarak Zeb Khan ISLAMABAD: The auction of next generation 3G and 4G licences is expected to fetch the national exchequer $1.3 billion and create employment opportunities for about 100,000 people, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday. “We are satisfied by the response from cellular service providers,” the finance minister said a press briefing convened to discuss his visit to Washington DC and the successful launch of Eurobond.
PPP asks Faisal Abidi to quit Senate By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party has asked Syed Faisal Raza Abidi, a senator from Sindh, to quit his seat. In a letter addressed to Senator Abidi, PPP Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf asked him to submit his resignation within a week at the party office in Islamabad.
Two injured in landmine explosion By Our Correspondent QUETTA: Two people were wounded in a landmine blast in Marjanzai area of Loralai district on Wednesday, Levies sources said. They said the landmine was planted along a roadside and went off when a motorcycle carrying two people hit it.
Navy officer escapes attack By Behram Baloch GWADAR: A senior officer of Pakistan Navy escaped an attack in Talar area of Kech district on Wednesday. According to sources, Commander Naghman Chaudhry was returning to Gwadar from Turbat when some men opened fire on his vehicle. Security personnel escorting him returned fire and injured an attacker. According to security sources, the officer remained unhurt.
Highways in Balochistan blocked on PML-N call By Amanullah Kasi QUETTA: The Balochistan chapter of the PML-N backed by different political and religious parties observed on Wednesday first death anniversary of the Zehris who were killed in an attack on their convoy last year. The parties held protests to mark the occasion and the PML-N gave a strike call for Friday in protest against the authorities’ failure to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.
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