14 January 2004 Wednesday 21 Ziqa'ad 1424 Open debate on govt policies demanded KARACHI, Jan 13: The Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal has demanded open debates on foreign and internal affairs, fiscal policies and law and order in the country. ... Jamaat concerned at political situation KARACHI, Jan 13: The Majlis-i-Shura of the Jamat-i-Islami (JI) Sindh, on Tuesday felicitated the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leadership on successful negotiations with the government over the LFO ... MMA leader slams ARD MULTAN, Jan 13: The ARD and its component parties are 'out of their senses' after the resolution of the constitutional crisis through the 17th amendment. This was claimed by MNA Liaquat Baloch ... Shoora proposes three names for JI amir LAHORE, Jan 13: Central Shoora of the Jamaat-i-Islami has proposed three names for new amir through a secret ballot. They are incumbent amir Qazi Husain Ahmad, Syed Munawwar Hasan and Liaquat Baloch. The Shoora has nominated Lahore Jamaat naib amir Abdul Hafeez Ahmad as election commissioner. ... Political activities in Fata demanded: ANP asks govt to repeal FCR PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded of the federal government to allow political activities in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to help the people come out of isolation ... Durrani criticizes Wana operation PESHAWAR, Jan 13: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani on Tuesday said the army operation in FATA amounted to questioning the tribesmen's patriotism besides suspecting their traditions. ... Army action flayed PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The ongoing military operation in the South Waziristan Agency has created a sense of deprivation among the people of the tribal area, says senior minister in the NWFP cabinet Sirajul Haq. ... 'Termination notice' to Capt Safdar LAHORE, Jan 13: The PML-N claimed here on Tuesday that the federal government had issued a notice to Capt Muhammad Safdar (retired) to explain why his services should not be terminated for his permanent absence from duty. ... Steel Mills case hearing put off ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The hearing in PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari's appeal against the judgment of National Accountability Bureau court in Steel Mills case was adjourned by the Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court here on Tuesday. ... Children allowed to stay with Asif RAWALPINDI, Jan 13: A local Accountability Court has allowed the children of Asif Ali Zardari to stay with him for one week, starting from Wednesday. ... JAC to oppose 'covert' move: Reduction in judges' number LAHORE, Jan 13: The Lawyers Joint Action Committee (JAC) has resolved to oppose a 'behind the scenes' move to get the number of judges in the Supreme Court reduced. ... SHC seeks report on missing newsman KARACHI, Jan 13: The Sindh High Court asked a deputy attorney- general on Tuesday to ascertain whether a freelance Pakistani journalist who accompanied two French newsmen on their unauthorized trip to Quetta and the Pak-Afghan border was being detained by any federal agency. ... Kabul has released 100 Pakistanis, says Faisal ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Afghan government has released 100 Pakistani prisoners on reciprocal basis, interior minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat told reporters at a function held at the Convention Centre here on Tuesday. ... Relations with India to improve: Jamali - Exchange of delegations DADU, Jan 13: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the exchange of delegations between Pakistan and India will improve relations between the countries. ... Feb talks crucial for Kashmir: Qayyum LAHORE, Jan 13: Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan, a former president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir, says the next round of Pakistan and India talks to be held in February will determine whether the process started with the recent parleys between President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee in Islamabad will lead to the settlement of the dispute over Kashmir or the situation has to revert to square one. ... Upholding of moral values in anti-terror war stressed UNITED NATIONS, Jan 13: Pakistan on Monday urged the world community to wage war against terrorism comprehensively on a global front with a vision and understanding underscoring that "it must not be allowed to engender a clash of civilizations." ... BNP to hold public meetings: Mengal QUETTA, Jan 13: The central executive committee of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) has decided to hold protest meetings at Quetta, Hub, Turbat and Usta Mohammad against the construction of Gwadar deep seaport and cantonments at Kohlu, Wadah and Sui. ... Traders urged to make inroads: Afghan markets PESHAWAR, Jan 13: NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has urged the NWFP's trade and business community to play a proactive role by taking advantage of the vast export and investment opportunities in Afghanistan and within the province. ... SCBA seeks repeal of Hudood laws ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Supreme Court Bar Association has demanded that the government should implement the recommendation of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to repeal the Hudood laws. ... Much progress made in education: minister ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal on Tuesday challenged the nationalist parties in Balochistan to visit any part of the province with her and see development in the education sector. ... Musharraf, Benn discuss uplift plans RAWALPINDI, Jan 13: UK Secretary of International Development Hilary Benn called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Tuesday and discussed the economic situation of Pakistan and the development programmes in the country. ... Poverty reduction linked with strong institutions ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: State Bank Governor Dr Ishrat Hussain on Tuesday said poverty could not be reduced without first strengthening the institutions. He said the problems of the common man that he faced on village ... HEC reviews curriculum of software engineering ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has reviewed graduate and postgraduate curriculums of software engineering besides recommending a number of steps to develop the discipline, said an official statement. ... Over 1,000 computer labs in next three years ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The federal information ministry in collaboration with the provincial governments will set up 1,100 state of the art computer laboratories at the cost of Rs1.8 billion at school and intermediate college levels in the coming three years. ... PTCL asked to prepare for challenges ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) chairman Akhtar Ahmad Bajwa on Tuesday said the telecom company should be prepared to meet the future challenges in a befitting manner. ... Shahani didn't inform govts of visit LAHORE, Jan 13: Punjab Sports and Culture Minister Naeemullah Shahani had gone to the tribal area in the NWFP without informing the provincial governments, the Punjab Assembly was told on Tuesday. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004