DINA for the issue of August 21, 2014

DAWN INTERNET NEWS ALERT	August 21, 2014 | Shawwal 24, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Imran, Qadri summoned by Supreme Court Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has asked Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri to appear before it to reply to a number of challenges filed against the sit-ins being staged on Constitution Avenue by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://www.dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks up 34.72 points: KARACHI, August 20 : At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was 28664.84,up 34.72 po Forex Update : KARACHI,August 20 : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 100.75 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Signs of thaw as all sides agree to talk From the Newspaper After nearly a week of stonewalling, both PTI and PAT agreed to talk to the government on Wednesday, a day after the army made it clear that both sides must put an end to the impasse through discussion. But talks began after charged party workers, spurred on by Dr Tahirul Qadri, laid siege to Parliament House while a session of the National Assembly was being held. Tensions were only quelled after the military contingent deployed at parliament intervened.
Inauspicious start with PAT Syed Irfan Raza ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) initiated negotiations with the government on Wednesday, but after the first round of talks they were no closer to a deal that might end the sit-in by Dr Tahirul Qadri’s supporters. Dr Qadri is reportedly refusing to budge from his demand for the resignations of both Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, as well as the registration of an FIR against them for the Model Town incident.
Little headway with PTI Kalbe Ali ISLAMABAD: The first effort at negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ended without any progress though with a resolve to meet again. Within twenty hours of the first message of the army suggesting that the stakeholders reach a solution, an intransigent PTI chief Imran Khan agreed to talks and by Wednesday midnight the party’s five-member team was huddled up with a government team at a conference room at a five-star hotel.
Army advises parties to hold talks, refuses to mediate Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD: The army has refused to mediate between the government and the protesting parties to defuse the political crisis and has instead asked both sides to work for a settlement on their own. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali met Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif for the fourth time in eight days on Wednesday. They were told to directly engage the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in a “meaningful dialogue” and find out an “urgent solution”.
Back-to-back meetings as tension mounts The Newspaper's Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: Tensions at the Prime Minister Office, where the mood has been grim over the past few days, came to a head on Wednesday when the marchers virtually besieged for some time its entrance and exits on the Constitution Avenue. Inside, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held meetings with important ministers to take stock of the situation after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) continued to build pressure on the government in a bid to seek his resignation and dissolution of the assemblies, a government official privy to the development told Dawn.
Under siege, PM keeps mum amid vows of support Raja Asghar ISLAMABAD: Inside a besieged National Assembly, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif heard on Wednesday assurances of support from both allies and some political foes but left in apparent hurry without speaking about protests by crowds assembled outside demanding that he resign. Tens of thousands of the followers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) had already laid siege to the parliament house overnight and lawmakers found themselves shut out from the main entrance as did journalists from their entry gate because of protesters blocking them the way.
Domestic agenda may be behind Modi’s ‘Kashmir slugfest’ The Newspaper's Correspondent NEW DELHI: As the India-Pakistan slugfest continued on Wednesday over the status of Hurriyat Conference in their bilateral agenda, focus panned on a crucial domestic constituency that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be eyeing in the mayhem — the abrogation of Article 370 that accords Jammu and Kashmir special status. The Indian Express described as defiant Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s pointed defence of his meetings with Hurriyat leaders ahead of the now abandoned foreign secretary level talks. The envoy said in his media interactions that the “bottomline” for Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir issue was to engage all stakeholders.
Basit terms Kashmiri leaders stakeholders in process AFP NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s top envoy to India on Wednesday defended his decision to meet Kashmiri leaders, a move that prompted New Delhi to cancel high-level talks between the neighbours. High Commissioner Abdul Basit said he met Kashmiri leaders as part of efforts to resolve tensions between the two countries, including over the disputed Himalayan region.
Sri Lankan president’s visit put off The Newspaper's Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD: Ongoing protests in the federal capital have forced postponement of Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Pakistan. “The visit has been postponed on our suggestion,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said.
Manmohan not entitled to immunity for acts committed as finance minister: US judge Masood Haider NEW YORK: A US judge has ruled that Manmohan Singh is immune from allegations that he “supported genocide of Sikhs” during his tenure as head of Indian government but does not enjoy “head of state immunity” for claims arising from his tenure as finance minister, from 1991 to 1996. In his verdict, Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia said: “Although he is no longer a head of state, (Mr) Singh is entitled to residual immunity for acts taken in his official capacity as prime minister."
Militants behead US journalist AFP WASHINGTON: Militants belonging to the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, have released a video showing the beheading of an American journalist kidnapped in Syria, in the most direct retaliation yet to US air strikes against them in Iraq. The video, in which the IS group also threatened to kill another reporter if US air strikes in Iraq continued, sparked global outrage on Wednesday.
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