25 February 2004 Wednesday 04 Muharram 1425 ARD, MMA differ on priorities LAHORE, Feb 24: There is little possibility of any cooperation between the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for struggle against the government in the foreseeable future as the two alliances have different priorities and divergent views on basic issues. ... PPP blasts minister's statement ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Pakistan People's Party has condemned the statement of Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed accusing the party chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, of corruption. ... ANP leader joins PML-N PESHAWAR, Feb 24: The PML-N has pledged to continue its struggle for the establishment of true democracy and rule of law in the country. "The solution to the country's problems lies in the establishment of true democracy and rule of law. ... Nationalists reject local govt system ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The leaders of nationalist parties have rejected the local government system introduced by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) and said the country needs a new constitution in order to remove sense of deprivation among the people of smaller provinces. ... PONM demands fresh elections, rights ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Pakistan Oppressed Nationalists Movement (PONM) has demanded dissolution of assemblies, holding of fresh elections for a constituent assembly under the 1940 resolution ... Election tribunals' different verdicts stir controversy ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Two different decisions by Election Tribunals, one in Sindh and the other in Punjab, on identical grounds of possessing fake degrees ... PM urged to watch party interest OKARA, Feb 24: A PML-Q meeting held here on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali to watch the party interest instead of promoting personal relations with politicians. ... Operational preparedness guarantees peace, says Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Feb 24: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said professional training and operational preparedness of the army guarantees peace. ... Rumsfeld praises Musharraf TASHKENT, Feb 24: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Tuesday that the United States was pleased with the arrests of suspected Al-Qaeda militants by Pakistan and praised President Pervez Musharraf. ... Restructuring of NAB begins ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Restructuring of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has begun with a view to refining investigation procedures for tackling the white-collar crime and to improve the organizational structure. ... Govt must enforce Shariat: Sami HARIPUR, Feb 24: The provincial government must honour its commitment and immediately enforce Shariat in the Frontier province, says Senator Maulana Samiul Haq. ... Punjab can't ban wheat movement, assembly told LAHORE, Feb 24: The Punjab government cannot ban movement of wheat to other provinces as it is a constitutional matter and the federal government as well as other provinces may object to it. ... 10 police cars included in president, PM's motorcade RAWALPINDI, Feb 24: The government has taken back 10 out of the 22 cars given to the Islamabad police for security duty during the Saarc Summit, official sources told Dawn. ... Law minister opposes PA resolution on Kashmir LAHORE, Feb 24: Punjab Minister for Law Raja Basharat opposed a resolution on Kashmir in the Punjab Assembly here on Tuesday. The resolution was moved by members of the opposition Mian Yawar Zaman, Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, Nawaz Malik and Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmed. ... Wheat crisis to end with arrival of fresh crop - Cabinet okays new policy KARACHI, Feb 24: The Sindh government on Tuesday has given approval to its 'wheat policy 2004' under which procurement price has been fixed at Rs350 per maund and procurement target for the Food Department at 0.6 million tonnes. ... Social sciences council to be set up in Capital ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to establish a capital-based Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Pakistan to promote all disciplines that come under the social sciences regime, an official statement said. ... Pakistan keen to strengthen ties with CARs: Zobaida ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal has spoken of close relations between Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs), saying there is complete identity of views on issues of security and combating terrorism. ... Oman gives $3.6m to 2 varsities ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Oman has provided a grant of Rs231.41 million ($3.6 million) to set up Sultan Qaboos IT chairs at two leading engineering universities of the country. ... Pakistan, Russia to jointly counter terrorism ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistan and Russia have worked out the modalities for general coordination to understand each other's perspectives on strategic security, defence and counter-terrorism measures, official sources said here on Tuesday. ... Musharraf to address Indian seminar via video link NEW DELHI, Feb 24: President Gen Pervez Musharraf is expected to address an international conclave organized by an Indian magazine in New Delhi next month, but he will speak from Islamabad through a video hookup, official sources said on Tuesday. ... Donors want more allocation for social sector ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistan's bilateral and multilateral donors have urged the government to substantially increase budgetary allocations for social sectors and improve the weak implementation process in the country. ... UNHCR data termed irrelevant PESHAWAR, Feb 24: A UN field mission has expressed dissatisfaction over the UNHCR's health information system in Pakistan, terming data compiled by it completely irrelevant and saying it does not help in making health management decisions, or programme reorientation. ... Requisition submitted for PA session PESHAWAR, Feb 24: The combined opposition in the NWFP assembly on Tuesday submitted its requisition, along with a heavy agenda, for getting the assembly session convened in the first week of March. ... Qayyum urges early expansion in Pakistan Steel capacity ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The chairman of Pakistan Steel, Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Qayyum, has said early expansion in the existing capacity of Pakistan Steel is imperative to meet ever-rising demand of steel ... $186m ADB loan for Balochistan roads ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to offer $186.7 million to Pakistan to help undertake an extensive "Balochistan Road Development Sector Project" for which a loan agreement is expected to be signed in Manila on Wednesday. ... Access to justice programme discussed KARACHI, Feb 24: The $350 million Asian Development Bank's loan for access to justice programme will help strengthen the judiciary and policing in Pakistan. ... Privatization of Habib Bank challenged LAHORE, Feb 24: The privatization of Habib Bank has been challenged in the Lahore High Court on the grounds that it was sold at a throwaway price and the proceeds received were drastically below its assets. ... Law commission wants stricter bail rules - Changes in CrPC proposed LAHORE, Feb 24: The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan seeks to bring matters related to bail surety bonds under a more effective legal discipline through amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. ... Farmers seek withdrawal of cess on farm inputs ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Kissan Board, a representative body of farmers, has announced that it will soon launch a countrywide protest campaign if the government failed to withdraw cess on agricultural inputs. ... Ruling reserved in SBP workers case ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on 165 identical appeals filed by the ex-employees of State Bank of Pakistan who were retired under the golden hand shake scheme ... Enactment of law for senior citizens needed ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: There is an urgent need for enactment of a senior citizens bill, said federal minister Mahmud Ali while presiding over the executive committee meeting of the Senior Citizens' Federation here. ... Kaddoumi briefed on Indo-Israel relations ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The visiting Palestinian foreign minister, Farouk Kaddoumi, who called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Tuesday, delivered to him a letter from President Yasser Arafat. ...

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