06 February 2004 Friday 14 Zilhaj 1424 MMA gives strike call ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: Major opposition parties have decided to launch a nationwide movement against the government from Friday to protest what they call a "U-turn by it on Kashmir policy and the country's nuclear programme." ... ARD planning to launch remove-Musharraf drive LAHORE, Feb 5: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy on Thursday announced 'a remove-Musharraf and save-country movement' but delayed giving a date for launching the drive until March 7 when a public meeting would be held in Sahiwal. ... Nuclear programme compromised: Imran ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: Chief of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday announced support to the Friday's strike call of Muttahida Majlis-i-Ammal against President General Pervez Musharraf ... Assembly to complete tenure, says PM ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Thursday that because of the government-MMA agreement "things were moving in the right direction" ... Controversy over 'pre-trial' pardon ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: A PPP leader and constitutional expert has questioned President General Pervez Musharraf's power to pardon Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, saying that powers to pardon an accused are only available to the Head of the State ... Benazir, Rashid meet NEW YORK, Feb 5: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid on Thursday exchanged pleasantries at the national prayer breakfast meeting in Washington ... 'Shahbaz to return in March' ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: President of Pakistan Muslim League-N Shahbaz Sharif has decided to end his exile and return to the country next month. ... MMA criticized for supporting amendment QUETTA, Feb 5: Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and MNA Mahmood Khan Achakzai has criticized the MMA leadership for supporting the 17th amendment to the Constitution. ... Dr Qadeer 'forced' to give statement TOBA TEK SINGH, Feb 5: Deputy opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that Dr Qadeer Khan was forced to give a confession statement and called it an insult of both the nuclear scientist and the nation. ... Removal of Dr Khan widely condemned TAXILA: Feb 5: People from different segments of the society on Thursday condemned the unseating of the father of the country's nuclear programme, Dr AQ Khan, from his public office and in-house arrest for three months. ... Fazl's visit to India paved way for peace: Durrani - Kashmir Day in NWFP PESHAWAR, Feb 5: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal general secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman's visit to India paved the way for the present peace process between Pakistan and India. ... Muslims asked to help resolve Kashmir issue KOHAT, Feb 5: District Nazim Malik Asad has urged the Muslims to make collective and serious efforts for the solution of the long-standing Kashmir and Palestine issues according to the United Nations resolutions. ... Jamaat leaders criticize govt's Kashmir policy HYDERABAD, Feb 5: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal staged a rally at Kohinoor Chowk here on Thursday to mark the Kashmir day. ... Rallies criticize govt policies on Kashmir KARACHI, Feb 5: Activists of various political and religious parties and groups held rallies in different parts of the city to demonstrate solidarity with Kashmiris and deploring the alleged 'U-turn' of the government on the issue of Kashmir. ... Strike call likely to get mixed response KARACHI, Feb 5: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has given a call for a countrywide strike on Friday to condemn the government attitude towards father of country's nuclear programme, Dr AQ Khan, and to express solidarity with other scientists. ... MQM asks people to reject strike call KARACHI, Feb 5: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's coordination committee bitterly criticized Jamaat-i-Islami and other religious parties for giving strike call to express solidarity with Abdul Qadeer Khan and other nuclear scientists. ... JUI-S will not take part in strike HYDERABAD, Feb 5: A central council member of Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam (Sami), Sahibzada Hifzur Rehman Shams, announced on Thursday that his party would not respond to the strike call given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal ... New security system for cantonments ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: The government has decided to have new security arrangements for all cantonments in the country, informed sources told Dawn on Thursday. ... Peace in South Asia vital, says minister WASHINGTON, Feb 5: Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday stressed the need for peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, so that a long-lasting peace, normalization and stability in South Asia is achieved ... Shahani may be sacked LAHORE, Feb 5: Punjab Sports Minister Naeemullah Shahani who appeared on the Eid day after being detained by tribesmen of the NWFP for 23 days, faces another ordeal - removal from the cabinet. ... 'Fatima Jinnah urged women to acquire skills' ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah had done a lot to highlight women's contribution in the development of Pakistani society. ... AJK TV channel launched MUZAFFARABD, Feb 5: President Gen Perevez Musharraf on Thursday inaugurated the first independent AJK TV channel and hoped it would play an important role in creating solidarity with the Kashmiri people and reflect their true aspirations. ... India asked to abide by UN resolutions QUETTA, Feb 5: Quetta City government Nazim Abdur Rahim Kakar and APHC leaders Dr Walid Rasool and Ghulam Mir backed the government policy on Kashmir to settle the problem through negotiations ... Textile city to be set up in Karachi: Jatoi DADU, Feb 5: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said the government is establishing a textile city in Karachi where 80,000 jobs will be provided to people. ... Law and order reviewed KARACHI, Feb 5: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that law and order has improved in Karachi after great efforts and the city's usual hustle and bustle has been revived with normal industrial activities and daily life routine. ... Speakers urge people to press govts for peace KARACHI, Feb 5: Speakers at a function stressed on Thursday that the peace loving people of India and Pakistan have to force the governments of the two countries to establish peace. ... Indian peace activists welcomed KARACHI, Feb 5: A group of Indian writers and peace activists, led by noted historian K.N. Paniker, was welcomed by the Progressive Writers Association and Bazm Adabo-o-Saqafat at a reception held in their honour ... Leaders oppose division of Kashmir KARACHI, Feb 5: Division of Kashmir will not be acceptable, not only to Kashmiris, but also to the 140 million Pakistanis. If anyone made an attempt to divide it he would have to face the wrath of the whole nation. ... 452 Hajis arrive by first flight KARACHI, Feb 5: The PIA's post-Haj operation, which began on Thursday, entails a total of 313 flights from Jeddah to five domestic stations. ... Japan to finance water projects PESHAWAR, Feb 5: The Japanese organization JAICA will launch water supply schemes in Abbotabad district for the provision of potable water to inhabitants. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004