01 February 2004 Sunday 09 Zilhaj 1424 HR Watch seeks role of law improved in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Human Rights Watch executive director Brad Adams has said the military has an "excessive role" in Pakistan, which ultimately "leads to human rights violations". ... PPP decides to launch mass contact campaign LAHORE, Jan 31: PPP's think-tank has decided to launch a mass contact drive, and prepare a documentary on party's founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and screen it on April 3. ... Nothing big in regime's debt payment: PPP ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says there is nothing big in the Musharraf regime's claim that it has paid $1 billion debt back to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ... MMA to observe Kashmir Day PESHAWAR, Jan 31: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has decided to observe the Kashmir Day, falling on Feb 5, and express solidarity with the Kashmiris. ... Govt's decision to remove Dr A.Q. Khan criticized ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Leaders of various political parties on Saturday criticized the government's decision to sack Dr A.Q. Khan from his position as adviser to the prime minister and said this would cause irreparable damage to the country's integrity. ... District govt system can't be weakened, says PML-Q PESHAWAR, Jan 31: PML-Q Secretary-General Salim Saifullah Khan has said that nobody can weaken the district government system. He exhorted the Nazims to rise for the attainment of their rights. ... Court orders medical treatment of Asif KARACHI, Jan 31: The authorities were ordered on Saturday to provide medical treatment to Asif Ali Zardari, who has been suffering from piles. ... Shahani's presence in Wana denied PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Assistant Political Agent Wana (South Waziristan Agency), Rehmat Ullah Wazir, has contradicted reports that abducted Punjab minister Naeemullah Shahani was present in Wana. ... NSC formation detrimental to sovereignty: ANP PESHAWAR, Jan 31: The Awami National Party has described the creation of National Security Council as detrimental to the sovereignty of parliament. ... Murder case against MPA condemned ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Pakistan People's Party has condemned implication of its MPA and parliamentary leader in the Balochistan assembly in a case of murder that took place in April last year at Mastung. ... Politicians asked to find solutions to water issues ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Speakers at a national workshop have asked the political leadership of the four provinces and other stakeholders to work out their differences through dialogue for finding an acceptable solution to water-related issues in the larger national interest. ... Gwadar being made commercial port: FO ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The foreign office on Saturday said that Gwadar port was being developed as a commercial port which would enhance Pakistan's economic and trade relations with countries of Central Asia, Middle East and Europe. ... PRCS discusses future relief services ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The newly appointed managing body of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Saturday met at its headquarters to discuss ways and means to make the PRCS an independent and self-reliant society for effective disaster relief and humanitarian services. ... $261 million highway project launched ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Saturday launched a national highway improvement programme (NHIP) to rehabilitate, resurface and improve 856 km-long different sections of Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar national highway costing $261 million. ... Quality must to meet WTO challenges: PNAC ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) chief coordinator, Ehsanur Rauf Sheikh, on Thursday asked the stockholders to be quality conscious to meet the challenges of WTO regime. ... PIA's first Boeing 777 arrives KARACHI, Jan 31: Completing its journey from Seattle, USA, to London and Islamabad, PIA's newly-acquired Boeing 777 landed at Quaid-i-Azam International Airport on Saturday afternoon. ... Govt urged to check misuse of Qisas law QUETTA, Jan 31: Killing in the name of honour, Karo-kari and Siyah Kari has no link with Islam at all and it was the responsibility of the state to take strict measures against these crimes. ... Heavy snowfall to help meet water needs: Met ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Heavy snowfall in upper parts of Pakistan and various parts of Azad Kashmir is reported satisfactory to meet water requirements of the country in the coming seasons. ... US Kashmiris plan vigils, protests for Feb 5 NEW YORK, Jan 31: Kashmiri groups here and in Washington have planned peaceful vigils and demonstrations to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir on Feb 5. ... PAF denies attack on air base ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Pakistan Air Force on Saturday denied any attack on its air base at Kohat, said an ISPR press release. ... Journalists urged to end hatred LAHORE, Jan 31: Journalists in Pakistan and India should use their pen to end hatred between the peoples of both the countries and highlight their common culture and sufferings. ... Food ministry insists poultry safe to eat ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: There has been no incidence of bird flu in poultry flocks in Karachi but it was in fact Avian Influenza (AI) which infected layer flocks. ... Sale of poultry items declines KARACHI, Jan 31: Even though the strains of virus that caused an outbreak of avian influenza recently in the city do not transmit to human beings, the sale of chicken meat and eggs has declined by about 66 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively. ... WHO calls for steps to check bird flu PESHAWAR, Jan 31: The World Health Organisation has called for adopting precautionary measures against bird flu in the Frontier province. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004