13 January 2004 Tuesday 20 Ziqa'ad 1424 Lawyers begin long march PESHAWAR, Jan 12: The All Pakistan Lawyers Joint Action Committee has demanded restoration of true parliamentary democracy in the country. "From the statements of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders it is clear that the 17th amendment was passed by parliament under duress ... Turncoats planning to hijack PPP: Fakhar's message to Benazir LAHORE, Jan 12: Mr Fakhar Zaman, a member of the PPP's central executive committee, has sent an urgent message to Ms Benazir Bhutto informing her that some 'turncoats and renegades' are planning to hijack the party by setting up a parallel "Bhutto Forum". ... Rigging alleged in trust vote LAHORE, Jan 12: Opposition leader Qasim Zia alleged on Monday that bogus votes had been cast in the confidence vote for Gen Pervez Musharraf on Jan 2. ... Suspect not in agencies' lists: Attack on president BAHAWALPUR, Jan 12: A man, who was arrested the other day for his alleged involvement in an attack on President Gen Pervez Musharraf, is not enlisted as an activist of any outlawed organization by the government. ... Peace process lacks institutional support: speakers ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Speakers at a seminar here on Monday welcomed the initiation of dialogue with India but expressed concern over, what they said, lack of institutional support to the peace process besides doubting the sincerity of President Gen Pervez Musharraf. ... Pakistan, India urged to implement accord KARACHI, Jan 12: Speakers at a seminar on Monday welcomed the recent bilateral initiatives between Pakistan and India and observed that unless the two countries implement the agreements signed by them ... Need to adopt cost-effective measures urged ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: In a resource strapped environment there is even a greater need to apply the management tools to enhance cost effectiveness. This was stated by Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Mohammad Yusaf Khan while speaking at the inaugural session of a short course on 'defence management, ... High Court issues notices to NAB KARACHI, Jan 12: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Monday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau for Jan 19 in an appeal and accompanying applications moved by a retired Naval officer convicted by an accountability court ... US launches $14m plan for legislative governance ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The US government has launched a $14 million project to strengthen legislative governance, media and civil society over a period of three years. ... WB may raise grant for reducing poverty ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The World Bank is likely to start extending $1 billion annually to Pakistan from the next fiscal year with a view to help tackling poverty in the country. ... UK may increase support for uplift plan PESHAWAR, Jan 12: British Secretary of State for International Development Hillary Benn hinted at increase in the overall support for community infrastructure development projects in the country in future. ... Wapda giving study on dams a fresh look LAHORE, Jan 12: The Water and Power Development Authority is now having a fresh look at its earlier recommendations on the three proposed dams -- Kalabagh, Bhasha and Akhori, claims Jehangir Tareen, a member of the parliamentary committee of water resources. ... Balochistan cabinet vows to implement govt writ QUETTA, Jan 12: The Balochistan cabinet has vowed to maintain writ of the government and provide full protection to the life and property of the people in the province. ... Consumer rights protection urged KARACHI, Jan 12: Senate Chairman Mian Mohammad Soomro has said that consumer is the driving factor for all commercial and industrial activities and urged community participation to protect consumer rights. ... Sindh to receive wheat from Punjab: minister HYDERABAD, Jan 12: Federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has said the Sindh government has only recently asked the federal government to supply 300,000 tonnes of wheat to it. ... Literacy plan needs Rs200 billion PESHAWAR, Jan 12: With Pakistan confronting a potential risk of missing major goals set by the World Education Forum held in 2000 at Senegal to ensure education for all by 2015 ... Pakistan tops S. Asia poverty list: report ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The incidence of poverty and unemployment in Pakistan has increased over the last 15 years, almost highest in South Asia, owing to macro-economic strategy based on structural adjustment programmes imposed by the IMF and the World Bank ... PIA airlifts 51,000 Haj pilgrims to S. Arabia ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has so far airlifted about 51,000 Haj pilgrims to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by 151 flights. ... Sohail, Saadia win best actor, actress awards ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Saadia Imam and Sohail Asghar won the best actress and actor awards for the year 2002 at a colourful 12th PTV Awards show organized to mark 40 years of Pakistan Television. ... Accidents claimed 45,000 lives in 9 years ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Traffic rules violation and lack of adequate road safety standards in the country claimed 45,000 lives in 90,000 road accidents during the last 9 years, causing an annual loss of Rs5 million. ... Islamabad yet to open mission in Shanghai BEIJING, Jan 12: Pakistan has approved setting up its consulate office in Shanghai, but it is yet to start functioning. Members of Pakistani community who wanted to expand business in China said the delay was causing problems. ... Medicinal plants may help treat cancer: Experts say... KARACHI, Jan 12: Over 35 lectures, including three plenary lectures, were delivered on the third day of the 9th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry on Monday. ... Gulf states to recognize degrees of Pakistanis KARACHI, Jan 12: Gulf states will likely be recognizing postgraduate degrees of Pakistani doctors, which will be a big break-throw in export of Pakistan's manpower. ... Resources of Muslim states underutilized: workshop KARACHI, Jan 12: Chairman, Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, Maj Gen Raza Hussain, on Monday deplored that the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Science and Technology ... Pakistani shot dead QUETTA, Jan 12: Iranian border security forces shot dead a Pakistani illegal immigrant near Mirjava, an Iran border town, at the Pak-Iran international frontier, official sources said here on Monday. ... Mehdi Ali passes away KARACHI, Jan 12: Mehdi Ali Siddiqi, judge, poet and author who caught the literary world's attention with his judgment on Sadat Hasan Manto, died in New York on Sunday, according to his family in Karachi. He was 97. ... Mahar promises probe into Sonara's murder KARACHI, Jan 12: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar said on Monday that a thorough investigation would be made into the incident, which claimed the life of PPP-SB leader Ali Mohammad Sonara. ... Kodak's 75 years Good business opportunities in Pakistan: Shaikh KARACHI, Jan 12: Over 600 multinational companies are operating in Pakistan and their returns on investment are as high as 60 per cent. This was stated by the federal minister for privatization and investment ...

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