24 February 2004 Tuesday 03 Muharram 1425 Senate debates N-proliferation ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Proliferation of nuclear technology was the focus of the debate on Monday when the Senate resumed its discussions on the President's speech to the joint sitting, with the opposition accusing the government of bypassing Parliament ... Opposition protests in Senate ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The protesting opposition in the Senate on Monday raised a question of the breach of privilege against the government that it said had blocked a seminar at the parliamentary lodges in Islamabad on Sunday and later booked politicians for speaking in the open air. ... PPP to launch anti-govt drive ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The two-day PPP meeting which was held in London on February 20 and 21 has resolved to launch a countrywide campaign against the government in consultation with the component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy from March 23. ... Mega projects to usher in prosperity, says Jamali SUKKUR, Feb 23: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said his government has initiated mega projects to provide relief and facilities to the people and raise their living standard. ... PPP leader meets UK diplomat ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), London, general secretary, Mohsin Bari, called on Michael Semple, the human rights adviser to British High Commission here on Monday. ... Hearing in Asif's appeal adjourned RAWALPINDI, Feb 23: An accountability court on Monday adjourned the hearing of an appeal filed by Asif Zardari against his conviction in Steel Mills reference. ... US provoking tribesmen against army, says Qazi PESHAWAR, Feb 23: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad condemning the operation in South Waziristan Agency has termed it part of the US conspiracy to provoke tribesmen against the army. ... MMA members walk out of PA LAHORE, Feb 23: Opposition members belonging to the MMA, the six-party religious alliance, staged a token walkout from the Punjab Assembly session here on Monday to protest 'humiliation' of nuclear scientists. ... Qasim calls meeting LAHORE, Feb 23: PPP's Punjab president Qasim Zia has convened a meeting of party's provincial to district level leadership on Feb 26. ... SC allows Haroon to take oath as MPA ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Supreme Court refused on Monday to restrain Haroon Akhtar Khan from taking oath as MPA, saying the constituency could not be left unrepresented. ... 7 'enslaved tenants' freed in Mardan MARDAN, Feb 23: National Assembly member Dr Attaur Rehman has said that the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal government is making sincere efforts to develop backward areas in the NWFP end to bring them at par with other areas of the province. ... Sealing of border not possible, says Hayat ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has said it is not possible to seal the entire Pakistan-Afghanistan border during a planned operation against terrorists in Waziristan. ... Kasuri spells out stand on handing over terrorists ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said on Monday terrorists who had committed crime against the US would be handed over to Washington if caught. ... Provinces to get due share in NFC award SUKKUR, Feb 23: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the government will ensure judicious distribution of national resources among the provinces under the fourth National Finance Commission award. ... PPP to raise ulema convention issue ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has decided to raise in parliament a number of questions regarding Ulema and Mashaikh Convention held in Islamabad on Feb 18, sources told Dawn here on Monday. ... JI demands complaint cells in Fata LANDI KOTAL, Feb 23: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has demanded that the government should establish complaint and accountability cells in all the tribal agencies. ... Public safety commissions in 31 dists - Punjab PA told LAHORE, Feb 23: The Punjab Assembly was told on Monday that public safety commissions had been constituted in 31 districts of the province while the process for the completion of remaining ones was in progress. ... HEC launches digital library ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Higher Education Commission on Monday announced the launching of a national digital library, under which institutions of higher learning will be able to have access to over 11,600 full-text online journals of international publishing houses. ... Bills passed for housing foundations LAHORE, Feb 23: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed The Punjab Journalist Housing Foundation Bill, 2004, and the Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation Bill, 2004. ... Yaqub briefs German MP on reforms ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: National Assembly deputy speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqub has said political power has been restored to the people after establishment of the parliament, provincial assemblies and local bodies at the grassroots level. ... Apnec election ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (Apnec) elected on Saturday office-bearers for the 2004-06 term. Pervez Shaukat has been elected chairman and Nasir Chishti general secretary. ... Wage board award case adjourned ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned till Wednesday the hearing of the constitutional petition of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) challenging the Seventh Wage Board Award. ... Tasman portion reaches Gadani KARACHI, Feb 23: The front portion of the broken oil tanker Tasman Spirit, which was run aground about seven months back, has finally reached Gadani for further dismantling. ... Cooperation among OIC states urged ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Muslim countries should show greater cooperation in the fields of trade and investment to ensure maximum utilization of their rich natural resources and potentials. ... Income Tax official nabbed KARACHI, Feb 23: The National Accountability Bureau, on Monday, arrested an additional commissioner of the Income Tax Department for allegedly accumulating assets through unknown means of income. ... Case registered against PONM activists ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Capital police have registered a case against 25 activists of 'Pakistan Oppressed Nationalist Movement' (PONM) for violating section 144, the police source said on Monday. ... Indian judges visit Moenjodaro LARKANA, Feb 23: A delegation of Indian judges that attended the Saarc law conference in Karachi, visited Moenjodaro and Sindh High Court, Larkana bench, on Monday. ... Rehabilitation of roads soon - NHA ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The National Highway Authority (NHA) will soon start Rs15.11 billion countrywide roads improvement, rehabilitation and maintenance programme. This was said by NHA chairman Maj-Gen Farrukh Javed on Sunday. ... HRCP chides govt for disallowing seminar LAHORE, Feb 23: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has described the government's attempt to stop the holding of a seminar in Islamabad on Sunday and threats to prosecute some parliamentarians and eminent citizens as a very serious violation of fundamental rights. ... Study reveals causes of neonatal deaths KARACHI, Feb 23: Low birth weight, tetanus and birth asphyxia are some of the major causes behind almost two-third of around 270,000 neonatal deaths annually in the country and 60 per cent of these deaths occur during the first week of life. ...

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