17 February 2004 Tuesday 25 Zilhaj 1424 PPP takes govt to task over nuclear imbroglio ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: PPP's parliamentary leader in the Senate on Monday criticized the government for not taking parliament into confidence over the nuclear proliferation issue and sought clarifications on 21 questions that he had raised. ... Benazir summons PPP leaders in London HYDERABAD, Feb 16: People's Party Parliamentarian MNA Syed Naveed Qamaruzzaman Shah has said that PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has summoned a meeting of party high command in London on Feb 20. ... US conspiring against Muslims: Qazi KARACHI, Feb 16: Qazi Hussain Ahmad has accused the United States and other Western countries of conspiring to deny the Muslims an access to knowledge, especially in the areas of science and technology. ... ARD warns Musharraf of trial PESHAWAR, Feb 16: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy on Monday warned that Gen Pervez Musharraf and his 'sycophants' would be tried if anything happened to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and his detained colleagues. ... ARD activists observe token hunger strike HYDERABAD, Feb 16: On the call of the ARD, activists of PPP and other political parties continued their protest campaign against the president for the fourth consecutive day on Monday in different cities of Sindh. ... Govt policies criticized LARKANA, Feb 16: Hundreds of activists of the People's Party Parliamentarians observed a hunger strike near the Jinnahbagh here on Monday. Agha Siraj Durrani, PPP divisional president, led the protest ... Junejo loses seat on fake degree ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the decision of the Sindh High Court Election Tribunal disqualifying PML-F MNA Mohammad Khan Junejo for possessing a fake BA degree. ... High Court unseats PML-N's MPA: Haroon declared elected LAHORE, Feb 16: An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court on Monday unseated a PML-N's MPA from Lahore, Sheikh Amjad Aziz, and declared PML-Q's Haroon Akhtar Khan elected to the Punjab Assembly in his place. ... N-plan rollback in lieu of debt retirement seen HYDERABAD, Feb 16: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi has said that there is every likelihood that the US will pay $33 billion of foreign loans outstanding against Pakistan with a view to capping the nuclear programme of the country. ... Sardar Assef joins PPP LAHORE, Feb 16: Former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali has stressed the need for developing a national consensus to steer the country out of "state crisis". ... PML-F criticized council decisions LAHORE, Feb 16: The PML (Functional) on Monday distanced itself from the decisions taken by a committee comprising representatives of five factions of the Pakistan Muslim League, in connection with their unification ... PMAP blasts govt, MMA over 17th Amendment PESHAWAR, Feb 16: Anti-democratic forces have turned the country into a military state, general secretary of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party says. He said this while speaking at a press conference here on Monday. ... JI wants parliament briefed on Kashmir PESHAWAR, Feb 16: The NWFP Jamaat-i-Islami, women's wing, on Monday asked the government to take parliament into confidence on the Kashmir issue. ... ARD presses for former PMs' return GUJRANWALA, Feb 16: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) continued its protest against the government on the fourth consecutive day on Monday and demanded that Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to come back. ... 'Big powers forced India, Pakistan to hold talks' ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The military establishments in India and Pakistan have to reconcile themselves with the changing realities of the new global order ... No reservations over Police Ordinance: Durrani KOHAT, Feb 16: The government has no reservations over the Police Ordinance, 2002, and it will leave no stone unturned to eliminate corruption and misuse of authority by the police personnel, ensuring respect and justice for the people, says NWFP Chief minister Akram Khan Durrani. ... Repeal of eight CrPC sections sought LAHORE, Feb 16: The Justice and Law Commission has suggested a draft bill seeking the repeal of as many as eight sections of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, consequent to their incorporation in the Hudood Ordinance. ... Developing Asia Journalism Awards announced ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) has annouced the "Developing Asia Journalism Awards" for journalists, covering development issues in print media, says a press release. ... UN to resume repatriation programme QUETTA, Feb 16: The United Nation refugees agency will resume assisting Afghan refugees who want to return to Afghanistan, restarting the voluntary repatriation programme from March 1. ... Operation to remove Tasman resumes KARACHI, Feb 16: Following a fresh approval by the Customs, the international salvage team restarted on Monday evening its operation to remove the wreck of the Tasman Spirit, the maritime sources said. ... Water policy in the offing: Sherpao - Summary to be presented before cabinet ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Monday said a summary on National Water Policy would soon be presented to the cabinet after it was endorsed by the provinces. ... PAF to get six used C-130s ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Pakistan Air Force would add six used C-130s to its air fleet at an estimated cost of $75 million by the end of the current year, PAF officials told Dawn. ... PR to make locomotives at home - minister SAHIWAL, Feb 16: Federal Railways Minister Ghaus Bakhsh Mehr said on Monday engine and its bogies would be assembled at home after attaining the technology from China and Japan. ... Cleansing of ecosystem to take five years KARACHI, Feb 16: Scientists engaged for damage assessment project have claimed that marine ecosystem which has adversely been affected due to a massive spill of crude oil from the grounded oil tanker Tasman Spirit would need at least another five years to be restored. ... Steps to check ozone depletion needed ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Minister of State for Environment Maj Tahir Iqbal (retired) has called upon the developed nations to share their experiences with developing countries and help them initiate effective measures for checking Ozone-layer depletion. ... Afghanistan asked to plan poppy eradication PESHAWAR, Feb 16: The National Council for Reconciliation of Afghanistan (NCRA) has asked the Karzai government to prepare a comprehensive plan for eradication of poppy crop from the country. ...

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