30 January 2004 Friday 07 Zilhaj 1424 MMA submits adjournment motion in NA: Nuclear scientists' debriefing ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The government has decided to convene the National Assembly session in the second week of February to table the bill seeking assent of parliament ... Jamali defends debriefing of scientists BAHAWALPUR, Jan 29: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has defended the debriefing of nuclear scientists and said the government, which was fully empowered to do so, will welcome discussion on it in parliament. ... PML-N asks govt to release scientists PESHAWAR, Jan 29: The Frontier chapter of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Thursday urged the government to immediately release nuclear scientists besides freeing its acting party chief Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari. ... Professional Forum calls for release of scientists ISLAMABAD Jan 29: The Pakistan Professional Forum (PPF) on Thursday staged a peaceful demonstration in the capital to express solidarity with detained nuclear scientists. ... Move for new alliance HYDERABAD, Jan 29: An alliance of those religio-political parties, which have parted ways with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, is on the anvil. This was stated by a provincial leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Sami), Sahibzada Hifzur Rehman Shams, in a statement issued here on Thursday. ... Proposal to set up South Asian parliamentary forum approved ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Pakistan's proposal to set up a South Asian Parliamentary Forum has been approved by the World Parliamentary Forum in its fourth annual meeting held in the Indian city of Mumbai, said People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNA Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed. ... Civic problems reviewed KARACHI, Jan 29: Federal and provincial ministers and members of the National Assembly belonging to the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) have started holding open kutcheries in pursuance of the directives of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. ... Qasim proposes law & order observer group LAHORE, Jan 29: Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Qasim Zia has proposed a 20-member joint law and order observer group, comprising MPAs from both sides, for a regular appraisal and making public facts about situation in the province. ... Move to divide Larkana district opposed THATTA, Jan 29: The leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, has said the provincial government's move to bifurcate Larkana into two districts may set an example for the division of Sindh. ... Petition against CEC filed ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The Majlis-i-Tahafuz Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (MTKN) on Thursday filed a writ petition under Article 199 of the Constitution in the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court ... Wrong date used to retire SBP employees, SC told ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Counsels for retired employees of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) completed their arguments in the contempt case filed by them against the bank management for not implementing judgment of the Apex court regarding their benefits under the Golden Handshake scheme. ... SC reverses judgment in damages case: $1 billion bank guarantee issue ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The Supreme Court reversed its earlier judgment on Thursday in which it had directed a US-based company to furnish bank guarantee of $1 billion ... Beetlenut seizure cases adjourned ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The Supreme Court has adjourned until Feb 17 the cases involving seizure of 600 containers of chalia (beetlenut) by the customs authorities. ... Shahani still untraced BANNU, Jan 29: Search for the missing Punjab minister for sports and culture appears to have come full circle following denial by the key suspects about the whereabouts of Naeemullah Shahani. ... Quality varsity education stressed KARACHI, Jan 29: President Pervez Musharraf has expressed concern over declining education standards at public-sector varsities and colleges and directed all four provincial governors to take steps for provision of quality education to students. ... Housing top priority, says minister ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Federal Minister for Housing and Works Syed Safwanullah has said housing had been accorded top priority by the government under the prime minister's housing for all initiative. ... Islam has no room for Vani, Swara: Meeting on Qisas, Diyat laws QUETTA, Jan 29: Vani and Swara are pre-Islamic traditions and have no room in Islam, therefore, it must be condemned and strict punishment should be awarded to the accused under Islamic laws. ... EC asked to set up technical institutes in N. Areas ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has asked the representatives of European Commission to establish agricultural and technical institutes in the Northern Areas. ... SHC stays cancellation of ID cards till Feb 12 KARACHI, Jan 29: The Sindh High Court stayed on Thursday the cancellation of the old, non-computerized national identity cards, scheduled for Jan 31 by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), till Feb 12. ... Baitul Mal blacklists 75pc NGOs ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) has blacklisted 75 per cent of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) it has been financing for various public welfare projects throughout the country. ... Indian election won't affect peace process: Menon KARACHI, Jan 29: Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon said on Thursday that the outcome of the elections in his country would not derail the peace process with Pakistan. ... Report allowing US troops into Pakistan incorrect: FO ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Rejecting a news report suggesting that Pakistan would agree to a US military offensive inside Pakistan, along the Pakistan-Afghan border, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said, "the report is absolutely incorrect." ... Senate urges active US engagement in S. Asia WASHINGTON, Jan 29: The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee has urged President George W. Bush Administration to "sustain active engagement" in South Asia in order to encourage continuation of Pakistan-India peace process. ... UNDP launches $10m plan for poverty reduction ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The UNDP has launched a five-year programme aimed at improving local conditions of Kutchi Abadis or urban settlements as well as supporting income generation activities of people living in those areas. ... Farm machinery census launched LAHORE, Jan 29: The federal government on Thursday launched the fifth agriculture machinery census throughout the country, according to Agriculture Census Commissioner Muhammad Younis. ... ICT admin wants ban on chickens' entry enforced ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration on Thursday directed all departments concerned to strictly implement the ban on the entry of chickens in Islamabad to check avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. ... PPA claims eradicating bird flu virus HYDERABAD, Jan 29: The Pakistan Poultry Association, Sindh zone, has claimed that H7 and H9 viruses, which were detected in layers in Karachi last year have been totally eliminated. ... Pilgrims to set out for Mina today MAKKAH, Jan 29: Some 1.7 million pilgrims will begin Haj rituals in Makkah on Friday amid tightened security measures. The pilgrims will in the early hours of Friday set out on foot or by bus for Mina, an arid valley 10 kilometres from here, marking the start of the Haj. ...

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