04 January 2004 Sunday 11 Ziqa'ad 1424 Govt hatching conspiracy against Benazir: PPP ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The 'Mullah-military alliance' has been in cahoots in hatching a conspiracy to keep former prime minister Benazir Bhutto out of politics and country, alleged the PPP senator, Enver Baig, here on Saturday. ... Smaller MMA components 'being sidelined' LAHORE, Jan 3: Smaller components of the six-party religious alliance Mutahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) complain that they are being ignored in policy-making. ... MMA suspends member over trust vote RAWALPINDI, Jan 3: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has suspended its MPA Fayazul Hassan Chohan from the membership of the alliance and asked him to explain why he voted for President Pervez Musharraf in the recently held vote of confidence. ... Presidential vote invalid, says PPP PESHAWAR, Jan 3: Provincial parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians Abdul Akber Khan has questioned the validity of the presidential vote of confidence, stating that the Chief Election Commissioner had not followed rules framed by the government in this regard. ... JUP MPA faces disciplinary action PESHAWAR, Jan 3: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani) has decided to take disciplinary action against its lone MPA in the NWFP Assembly, who used his vote in favour of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, party sources said. ... It's time to start dialogue, says envoy LONDON, Jan 3: Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi said on Saturday that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit gave Pakistan and India a historic opportunity to kick start a formal dialogue process. ... Saarc leaders asked to focus on peace ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The representative assembly of civil society organizations and networks of the South Asian countries have asked the Saarc leaders to focus on the peace keeping activities in the region. ... All offices in 'Red Zone' to remain closed on 5th, 6th ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The government on Saturday directed closure of all government and private offices falling in the "Red Zone" from January 5-6 as part of air-tight security in Islamabad for the 12th Saarc summit. ... Saarc moot to be historic: Shashank ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank has said the Islamabad Saarc summit will be historic and will pave the way towards a bright future for the seven nation regional grouping. ... Trading bloc to benefit masses: SCCI ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The early establishment of a regional trading bloc will not only improve the socio-economic condition of people in South Asia but will also help member countries to safeguard their interests in the multilateral trading system. ... Federal capital under siege ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Islamabad has been transformed into a fortress in preparations for the Saarc summit with 12,000 uniformed sleuths - comprising a dreaded mixture of army commandos, Rangers, Punjab and Islamabad police - manning 150 pickets in and outside the Capital. ... Pakistan, India urged to respect rights KARACHI, Jan 3: In a joint statement initialled by peace activists from both sides of the Indo-Pak border, the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) has demanded of New Delhi and Islamabad to respect the rights of their minorities. ... Saarc delegates' wives LAHORE, Jan 3: Families of the delegates to the 12th Saarc summit being held in Islamabad from Sunday, visited the tomb of Mughal emperor Nooruddin Jehangir and the Lahore Museum here on Saturday. ... 100 more ambulances for Edhi KARACHI, Jan 3: The Edhi Foundation is to add 100 more vehicles to its existing fleet of 700 ambulances operating in the country after receiving a donation of one million dollars. ... Court reserves order on jurisdiction issue KARACHI, Jan 3: Judge Parkash Lal Ambvani of the Accountability Court on Saturday reserved order on a legal point whether an accountability court can proceed in a reference without framing the question of fulfilling the requirement of Section 342 of CrPC. ... 48 VIPs challaned by NH&MP in 2003 LAHORE, Jan 3: The National Highways and Motorway Police issued challans to 48 VIPs including political leaders, ministers, MNAs, MPAs, cricketers, film actresses and army men for over-speeding during 2003. ... Call for independent labour judiciary LAHORE, Jan 3: The need for creation of an independent labour judicial service was stressed for prompt resolution of industrial disputes at a dialogue on the role of labour judiciary organized by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research. ... Judicial reforms yet to be implemented PESHAWAR, Jan 3: Participants of a one-day consultative workshop observed here on Saturday that the Asian Development Bank-funded Access to Justice Programme(AJP) has not been effectively executed so far and the judicial ... Army engineers sent to Bam for relief work QUETTA, Jan 3: Pakistan Army dispatched a contingent of engineers Bam, recently devastated by the earthquake, to take part in relief operations, said an ISPR statement issued here on Saturday. ... Pakistan supports free movement of newsmen RAWALPINDI, Jan 3: Minister for Information and Media Development, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday said Pakistan supports the free movement of journalists in the South Asian region. ... HEC to review curriculum ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Higher Education Commission (HEC) will review the curriculum of the discipline of Health and Physical Education being taught at public sector universities of the country at graduate and post-graduate levels. ... 19,114 pilgrims flown for Haj, one dies in Madinah ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: More than 19,114 pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia since December 26, in 61 flights for Haj, the Haj Directorate said here on Saturday, while one pilgrim suffered a cardiac arrest and died. ... Crown Prince Khalifa off to UAE SADIQABAD, Jan 3: The deputy supreme commander of the UAE and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, left Rahim Yar Khan on Saturday by a special plane after a 16-day private visit to Pakistan. ... Steps against hepatitis needed: expert KARACHI, Jan 3: Hepatitis is quite common in Pakistan. Effective measures are urgently required so that emphasis could be laid on preventive aspects of this condition. ...

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