07 March 2004 Sunday 15 Muharram 1425 Shahbaz summons leaders to London LAHORE, March 6: PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif has summoned some important leaders of his party to London for exchange of views on various issues. Party sources say that the former Punjab chief minister will hold consultations with them about his return to Pakistan. ... ANP opposes strong Centre, govt policies KARACHI, March 6: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has reiterated the party's belief that a strong Pakistan and a strong Centre are contradictory to each other and that the country could survive only as a working federation in letter and spirit. ... Tehrik-i-Istaqlal wants more provincial autonomy PESHAWAR, March 6: Tehrik-i-Istaqlal has called for maximum provincial autonomy to strengthen federation and remove the growing sense of deprivation among provinces. ... PPP CEC meets in Islamabad on 10th PESHAWAR, March 6: The Pakistan People's Party has convened a meeting of its central executive committee and all the 10 MPAs from the NWFP on March 10 in Islamabad ... 'Assembly of jurists' urged to invoke Article 6 LAHORE, March 6: Lahore High Court Bar Association president Ahmad Awais has said he is bound by his electoral commitment to work for constitution of a "grand assembly of jurists" for trying undemocratic people in national institutions on charges of subverting the constitution. ... Benazir condemns MPA's killing ISLAMABAD, March 6: Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto on Saturday denounced the murder of party's MPA Abdullah Murad in Karachi and called for a judicial probe into the murder besides demanding the dismissal of the provincial government. ... Murad's killing widely condemned KARACHI, March 6: The killing of PPP MPA Abdullah Murad, enraged the party leaders and activists who accused the government of "eliminating an outspoken legislator". ... Strike observed in Sindh: Controversial water projects HYDERABAD, March 6: A strike was observed in interior Sindh towns on Saturday on the call of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz against construction of Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal projects. ... Powell's visit a routine matter: Faisal LAHORE, March 6: US Secretary of State Collin Powell's scheduled visit to Islamabad is a routine matter and nothing special is going to happen, says Interior Minister Faisal Hayat. ... UK assistance to rise in next 3 years: Straw PESHAWAR, March 6: British secretary of state for foreign and commonwealthaffairs, Jack Straw had said thatBritain's development assistance to Pakistan would rise to 200 million pounds over the next three years registering a considerable growth in comparison with a couple of years ago. ... Witness against minister to be re-examined LAHORE, March 6: Accountability judge Rana Zahid Mehmood on Saturday turned down a plea of the defence counsel against re-examination of a prosecution witness in a wilful default reference against Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and nine others. ... Accountability court grants remand of 3 PTCL officials: Rs141m project scam ISLAMABAD, March 6: An accountability court on Saturday granted a 15-day physical remand of three PTCL officials involved in the Rs141 million Built and Operate (BT) project scam. ... Tasman's aft section finally removed KARACHI, March 6: The submerged rear section of oil tanker Tasman Spirit was towed out of KPT channel on Saturday morning for a final beaching at Gadani, the shipbreaking yard 45 nautical miles from Karachi. ... More consultations with provinces on water KARACHI, March 6: Senator Nisar Memon, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources, on Saturday said that having completed first round of consultations with all provincial governments on water resource management ... Punjab govt at odds with Pemra: Issuance of licences LAHORE, March 6: The Punjab government has objected to issuance of FM radio broadcast licences by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority without its consent ... Provinces, ministries told to exhaust funds by June 30 ISLAMABAD, March 6: The federal government has directed all the ministries and the four provinces to utilize their full annual budgetary allocations before June 30 to avoid lapsing of funds. ... Gwadar Port to usher in an era of economic uplift: official ISLAMABAD, March 6: Completion of Gwadar Port will usher in a new era of economic and industrial development in the country. This was stated by Federal Secretary for Communications Iftikhar Rashid during a press briefing ... Cotton growers slate official policies RAHIM YAR KHAN, March 6: Growers heaped criticism on official policies and 'money-minting' pesticides companies at a meeting organized here on Saturday to get input for the cotton policy 2004-2005 likely to be announced at the end of the current month. ... US fuelling sectarianism, says JI HYDERABAD, March 6: Jamaat-i-Islami secretary-general Syed Munawar Hassan has said after becoming the frontline state in the US invasion of Afghanistan, terrorist activities in Pakistan have increased manifold. ... DPs repatriation begins today PESHAWAR, March 6: The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will assist more than 400 Afghan refugees to return home from Shalman refugee camp on Sunday, initiating a programme that will see the camp in a waterless valley near the Khyber Pass closed before the end of March. ... China praises Pakistan, India peace efforts BEIJING, March 6: Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Saturday said his country highly appreciated the strategic vision of leaders of Pakistan and India for their continuous efforts for settling their disputes through peaceful means. ... Phalcon deal to disturb strategic balance, says Islamabad ISLAMABAD, March 6: Pakistan said on Saturday that it will take appropriate measures vis-a-vis India's deal to purchase three Phalcon airborne early warning radar system from the zionist regime, saying this would disturb the strategic balance in South Asia. ... Pakistan, India pledge tourism growth LAHORE, March 6: The Travel Agents Association of Pakistan and the Travel Agents Association of India have resolved to work wholeheartedly for the growth and promotion of tourism in both the countries. ... FWO endeavour commended GWADAR, March 6: Vice-Chief of Army Staff Gen Muhammad Yusaf Khan has commended the efforts of all ranks of the Frontier Works Organization, who completed Pasni-Gwadar project ahead of the scheduled completion time while ensuring requisite standards. ... HRCP terms jails crime promoting centres ISLAMABAD, March 6: Prisoners are the most neglected part of our society while jails have become crime-promoting centres and the community hate them due to lack of awareness. ... People urged to cooperate in anti-polio drive KARACHI, March 6: To attain the goal of 'Zero Polio Virus Prevalence' across the country, concerted efforts are needed on part of local parents, guardians and teachers along with general physicians ...

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