04 March 2004 Thursday 12 Muharram 1425 Shahbaz for national unity LAHORE, March 3: PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif says Pakistan has the legal right to take steps to bolster its defence, safeguard its national interests and assets to ward off threats from enemy. ... Appointment of Sindh PML-Q leaders urged HYDERABAD, March 3: A former Pakistan Muslim League-Q provincial vice-president and member of the central working committee, Chaudhry Saifullah, has stressed the need for infusing a new spirit in the party. ... Musharraf condemns Quetta attack ISLAMABAD, March 3: President Gen Musharraf on Tuesday condemned the terrorist attack on an Ashura procession in Quetta and directed the concerned authorities to take all measures to apprehend the culprits responsible for this heinous act. ... Quetta tragedy widely condemned ISLAMABAD, March 3: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto has condemned the terrorist attack on Ashura procession in Quetta, resulting in the death of over 40 mourners and injuries to dozens. ... Attacks on mourners slammed KARACHI, March 3: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief, Altaf Hussain, has slammed the attacks on Ashura processions in Quetta, Baghdad and Karbala in which a large number of mourners were killed. ... Qazi terms Quetta incident a conspiracy SIALKOT, March 3: Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad has described the Quetta tragedy on the Youm-i-Ashur as a conspiracy against country. ... Killings in Iraq, Quetta condemned KARACHI, March 3: The Shia Ulema Council has expressed grief and anger over the killings of Muslims in Karbala, Baghdad, Mandi Bahauddin and Quetta. ... Operation risk to security: PPP LAHORE, March 3: The PPP has opposed the Wana military operation and described it as a risk to political sovereignty and national security. "The government should arrest terrorists ... Wana issue taken up with centre: Fazl LAHORE, March 3: Believing that the Wana issue can be resolved peacefully, the NWFP government has taken up a few of its suggestions with the federal authorities, MMA secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman told reporters here on Wednesday. ... Hangu land dispute resolved: Durrani PESHAWAR, March 3: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has urged the people to sink their petty differences and initiate crusade against internal and external challenges as the anti-Islamic forces are actively working to create disunity in the Muslim ranks. ... Pakistan to examine WMD interdiction regime - FO ISLAMABAD, March 3: Pakistan would give its final response to the Proliferation Security Initiative after examining the ramifications of the WMD interdiction regime, a spokesman of the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. ... Decision on power tariff cut soon - Sherpao ISLAMABAD, March 3: Recommendation on reduction of power tariff will be sent to the cabinet within the next week and a decision in this regard will be implemented soon, says Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. ... Govt striving to provide social services: PM ISLAMABAD, March 3: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the government is striving for a welfare state where all social services are provided to the common man. ... LPP to take part in anti-US demos HYDERABAD, March 3: The Labour Party Pakistan has decided to take part in protest demonstrations to be held throughout the world on March 20 against US policies. ... Pakistan gives 35 trucks to Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, March 3: Pakistan has handed over 35 trucks to the Afghan authorities as first consignment out of 200 trucks announced by the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali during his recent visit to Kabul. ... AJK crisis persists as factions claim majority ISLAMABAD, March 3: The Azad Kashmir government crisis continued unabated on Wednesday as both AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and ruling Muslim Conference president Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan claimed a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly. ... Tourism team of India due tomorrow LAHORE, March 3: A 16-member tourism delegation headed by Balbir S. Mayal, president of the Travel Agents Association of India, is reaching here on a four-day visit on Friday. ... Major parties ban women from contesting by-polls TIMERGARAH, March 3: Leaders of major political parties here have decided not to allow women to contest in the forthcoming local bodies by-elections, even though there are seats reserved for the women. ... Three months sought for distribution: Nawab's property BAHAWALPUR, March 3: The implementation committee, constituted for the distribution of the property of late Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi (the fifth), has sought three months for the completion of the whole exercise. ... Ban on ads deplored KARACHI, March 3: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has strongly deplored the arbitrary ban on federal as well as provincial government advertisements to Nawa-i-Waqt group of publications ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004