DINA for the issue of August 30, 2014

DAWN INTERNET NEWS ALERT	August 30, 2014 | Ziqa'ad 3, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
Govt on back foot as army looks to continue ‘mediation’ Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD: Still reeling from the blowback of asking the military to step in to alleviate the prevailing political crisis, the government received another jolt on Friday evening when the Inter-Services Public Relations clarified that it was, in fact, the government that had asked Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to “facilitate” negotiations with the protesting parties — 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 792.50 points : KARACHI, August 29 : At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was 28566.93,up 792.50 points. Forex Update : KARACHI,  August 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 102.00 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Court moved for inclusion of terror law in FIR The Newspaper's Staff Reporter LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court for inclusion of provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the FIR on June 17 killings in Model Town in which 21 suspects have been nominated. The petition filed by Advocate Ishtiaq Samuel on behalf of the PAT says that police did not register the FIR in accordance with the application of the aggrieved party.
PTI, PAT leaders on same platform Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD: Accusing the prime minister of lying on the floor of the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Friday announced that his party would expand their sit-in to rallies in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and Multan on Saturday. Speaking to his supporters from atop his container on D-Chowk, Mr Khan said he would announce his next step on Sunday.
PM rules out U-turn, says he didn’t seek army chief’s role Raja Asghar Initially, the house appeared dejected following media reports that the government had asked General Raheel Sharif for a mediation that led to his overnight meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Allama Tahirul Qadri amid widespread concerns of critics about a perceived sidestepping of parliament. But the mood improved after denial by the prime minister and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who put the blame on the other side, and a stirring speech by the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Ahmed Shah, against any trampling of the constitution.
Army as ‘facilitator’ was Nisar’s brainwave Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan spent a busy Thursday and Friday, first inviting the army to play ‘facilitator’ and then dealing with the scathing criticism that came their way. According to government officials and PML-N insiders, this brainwave came from the interior minister and the prime minister; few others were aware of this move.
Modi says he is ready to mend ties with Pakistan The Newspaper's Correspondent NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, facing pressure from major powers to resume talks with Pakistan, told the Japanese media on Friday that New Delhi would continue to make efforts to have friendly relations with Islamabad. He starts a five-day tour of Japan from Saturday. Breaking his silence on cancellation of the talks, Mr. Modi said India was disappointed as Pakistan wanted to make a “spectacle” by meeting separatist leaders.
Britain raises terror risk level AFP LONDON: Britain raised its terror threat risk level to “severe” on Friday because of fears over the situation in Iraq and Syria, meaning an attack is thought to be “highly likely”. The move comes after the killing of US journalist James Foley, apparently by a man speaking with an English accent who belonged to the militant group Islamic State (IS), formerly known as Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS).
Syria biggest humanitarian emergency of era, says UN AFP DAMASCUS: The number of refugees from the Syrian conflict had topped three million, the UN said on Friday. In Geneva, UN refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres said Syria had become the “biggest humanitarian emergency of our era” after a million people joined the exodus in the past year alone.
Americans who have joined IS identified Masood Haider NEW YORK: US intelligence and law enforcement agencies have identified nearly a dozen Americans who have travelled to Syria to fight for the Islamic State (formerly called ISIS), the militant group that poses the greatest threat to the United States since Al Qaeda before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to CBS news and several other news outlets. As Islamic State has seized large expan­ses of territory in recent months, it has drawn more foreign men to Syria, requiring more US and European law-enforcement resources in the attempt to stop the flow of fighters, senior US officials said.
United States steps up sanctions on Iran Anwar Iqbal WASHINGTON: The United States stepped up its sanctions on Iran, targeting more than two-dozen companies and individuals linked to the country’s nuclear programme. US National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the latest measures were meant to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme remained “exclusively peaceful”. In two separate statements, the US State Department and Treasury said the sanctions target those who helped procure materials for Iran’s nuclear programme, managed the delivery of those materials, or contributed to projects that could help Iran to build nuclear weapons. The sanctions target at least 25 firms and individuals.
PM urged to take lead in resolving crisis Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Bar Association’s president, Kamran Murtaza, suggested on Friday that for the cause of democracy Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should reach out to chiefs of the two protesting parties in their containers on the Constitution Avenue. Talking to Dawn, he said such a step could help end the political impasse that has gripped the nation for the past many days.
Newspaper employee shot dead in Mardan Mohammad Jamal Hoti MARDAN: An employee of daily Mashriq was gunned down outside his office here on Friday, police said. Ihsan Ali, 28, had been associated with the newspaper for the past 10 years. He was an assistant to the newspaper’s bureau chief in Mardan district.
Ukraine seeks to join Nato; Putin compares Kiev to Nazis Reuters LAKE SELIGER (Russia): Ukraine called on Friday for full membership of Nato, its strongest plea yet for Western military help after accusing Russia of sending in armoured columns that drove back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels. Russian President Vladimir Putin, defiant as ever, compared Kiev’s drive to regain control of its rebellious eastern cities to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in World War Two.
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