29 February 2004 Sunday 08 Muharram 1425 ARD to hold Sahiwal meeting on 11th LAHORE, Feb 28: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy decided on Saturday to hold a public meeting at Sahiwal on March 11, instead of March 7 as decided earlier ... New platform to voice citizens' concerns ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: A group of senior politicians here on Saturday announced the formation of a unified platform to express their concern over growing unemployment ... PMAP demands new constitution PESHAWAR, Feb 28: The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has rejected the 1973 Constitution and demanded a new one to replace it. The party also called for withdrawal of cases against leaders who were booked for holding a seminar on the premises of parliament lodges. ... Altaf seeks inquiry into Dr Khan's trips abroad KARACHI, Feb 28: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, has demanded full scope inquiry to determine who had given permission and provided air force planes to Dr Qadeer Khan for travelling. ... Women urged to take part in byelection KARACHI, Feb 28: Speakers at a meeting here on Saturday urged women to actively participate in the upcoming by-elections for union councils. Out of the total 9,794 seats, for which by-elections are being held on March 28, 4,861 are reserved for women. ... JSQM protests against water projects NAWABSHAH, Feb 28: Hundreds of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz activists blocked the National Highway in Sakrand here on Saturday for three hours to protest against construction of Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal projects. ... ARD holds demo against Gadap tragedy KARACHI, Feb 28: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Sindh chapter, on Saturday staged a big demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club against the killing of two minor girls by police personnel in Gadap Town a few days back. ... 'Multiple threats' prompt red alert at airport KARACHI, Feb 28: A red alert was sounded at the Karachi airport on Saturday following reports about the presence of Osama bin Laden, chief of the Al Qaeda network, in the boarder area of Wana, South Waziristan. ... Efforts to resolve AJK crisis initiated MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 28: A "reconciliation mission" constituted by AJK prime minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat held separate meetings with Muslim Conference head Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan ... Rocca foresees closer ties with Islamabad WASHINGTON, Feb 28: US Secretary of State Christina Rocca has said that efforts are underway to further strengthen the US-Pakistan relationship. ... Bush ignored pressure against giving aid to Pakistan WASHINGTON, Feb 28: President George W. Bush, who has certified that Pakistan qualifies for receiving US financial assistance, faced considerable pressure from his ruling Republican party. ... US sees no early end to war on terrorism ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The global war against terrorism is for an uncertain duration and is not going to end soon, said J. Cofer Black, US ambassador and coordinator for counter-terrorism, here on Saturday. ... Pakistan calls to save lives in Haiti UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28: Pakistan has called upon the international community to take immediate action to save lives of people in Haiti and alleviate human sufferings. ... Repatriation plan a failure: UN PESHAWAR, Feb 28: The massive repatriation programme started by the UNHCR in early 2002 for the Afghan refugees has been a failure, said a report filed by the UN Mission. ... Memorandum signed with Australia: Cooperation in farm sector ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Australia and Pakistan will collaborate in the field of agricultural research. In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) ... Work to begin: Mangla Dam raising project in May MIRPUR, Feb 28: The phased process for rehabilitation of the affectees of the Mangla Dam Upraising project, coupled with initial work, including the formal survey to launch the construction work will begin from May this year ... Resentment over deep-sea fishing heightens KARACHI, Feb 28: The controversy over deep-sea fishing policy has resurfaced with more intensity as small fishermen have come out with strong condemnation of the zoning system ... Importance of girls education highlighted ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal on Saturday said girls education was an essential prerequisite to make a society more enlightened and responsible. ... Air varsity's progress reviewed ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The first meeting of the board of governors of the Air University here on Saturday gave approval for studying the feasibility of establishing institutes of modern sciences in collaboration with Higher Education Commission. ... WB team in RY Khan RAHIM YAR KHAN, Feb 28: The Washington-based World Bank officials visited Rahim Yar Khan district on the invitation of District Nazim Ahmad Mahmood and MNA Jahangir Tareen. ... 'Child labourers in carpet industry more prone to illness, injuries' ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The carpet industry has the highest incidence of illness and injuries caused to child labourers in the country ... Traditional drugs being used to treat Sars ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan has said it is encouraging to note that many Asian countries had turned to traditional medicine for the treatment of SARS. ... Experts stress awareness of epilepsy KARACHI, Feb 28: At least 25 million women are suffering from epilepsy in the world. This was stated by Prof Emeritus Hasan Aziz of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Saturday at the third annual conference of the Epilepsy Association of Pakistan. ... Pakistani national in Indian jail SANGHAR, Feb 28: A Pakistani national is languishing in an Indian jail for the last 26 years, it was learnt by this correspondent here on Friday through a reliable source. ... Kashmiris' role in solution stressed LAHORE, Feb 28: A former member of the National Kashmir Committee, Justice Raja Afrasiab Khan (retired), has said that no solution to the Kashmir issue will be durable and acceptable to the people of Kashmir without their consent. ... Cyclists of Belgium on Eurasian tour RAHIM YAR KHAN, Feb 28: Two Belgian cyclists on an intercontinental tour arrived here on Saturday. On their way from Australia to Belgium, ex-customs officer Gommers Frans (58) and Van Den Broeck Leonie (53), a housewife, are travelling through Pakistan these days. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004