12 March 2004 Friday 20 Muharram 1425 ARD's 'decisive' anti-govt drive SAHIWAL, March 11: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Thursday night launched it 'remove-Musharraf' drive by holding a big public meeting here at the Hockey Ground. ... PPP occupies office of opposition leader ISLAMABAD, March 11: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) MNAs on Thursday occupied the chambers of the opposition leader and deputy opposition leader, respectively, in the Parliament House. ... Govt-MMA deal on Hudood laws condemned ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Joint Action Committee (JAC), compromising a number of NGOs from the twin cities, has condemned the ruling coalition-MMA deal on Hudood ordinances. ... Altaf threatens electronic media with public boycott KARACHI, March 11: The London-based chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday threatened the country's television channels with a boycott for failing, in his opinion, to project the poor people's cause. ... Govt 'wants' to repeal Hudood laws LAHORE, March 11: A new violence against women draft bill will be presented in the Punjab Assembly in a few months. This was stated by Punjab Minister for Women and Human Rights Ashifa Riaz Fatiana at a press conference here on Thursday. ... Howard approaches Musharraf over wheat issue ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Australian government is approaching President Gen Pervez Musharraf through its prime minister John Howard after Pakistan's cabinet rejected the fungus-infected 150,000 tonnes of Australian wheat. ... Muttahida says PPP exploiting murder KARACHI, March 11: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday accused the Pakistan Peoples Party of resorting to 'terrorism' and otherwise exploiting the murder of Abdullah Murad for destabilizing the provincial government. ... Govt behind defections, says Qasim LAHORE, March 11: The PPP has blamed the ISI for causing defections in the party and resignations by MPs. Speaking at a press conference at opposition leader's chamber in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday ... Provincial govt asked to resign PESHAWAR, March 11: NWFP Assembly member from Swat, Shamsul Rehman Shams of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), on Thursday asked the provincial government to resign after being criticized for its failure by a Jamaat-i-Islami leader. ... NA assured IMF help won't be needed ISLAMABAD, March 11: The current year is the last year of Pakistan's dependence on IMF credits and the donor's assistance will be discontinued from 2005, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told the National Assembly here on Thursday. ... 'Military officers must return to barracks': NWFP Assembly opposes privatization PESHAWAR, March 11: The NWFP assembly on Thursday demanded that the government should abolish contracts of retired military officers and send the serving ones back to barracks. ... JI to organize Jirga on operation PESHAWAR, March 11: Jamaat-i-Islami will organize a three-day tribal jirga at the Al Markaz-i-Islami here on April 2, says a JI press release. ... Nishan-i-Imtiaz conferred on Gen Halil RAWALPINDI, March 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on Gen Halil Ibrahim Fitrina, Commander Turkish air force, at an investiture ceremony in Rawalpindi on Thursday. ... No pressure to give up nuclear option: experts WASHINGTON, March 11: No world power, including the United States, ever asked Pakistan to give up its nuclear option, not even after the current nuclear scandal, foreign policy experts told Dawn. ... Adviser seeks removal of name from ECL KARACHI, March 11: The Sindh High Court sought on Thursday comments from the interior ministry on a petition by Sindh Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar for deletion of his name from the exit control list. ... Govt policy blamed for crisis faced by foundries FAISALABAD, March 11: The Faisalabad Foundry and Engineering Industries Association has expressed fear that in case the government fails to resolve the iron crisis ... Indian writers arrive for conference LAHORE, March 11: A nine-member delegation of Indian writers arrived here on Thursday evening through Wagah to attend the 10th Saarc Writers Conference. ... Govt orders Rs150m for carnage victims QUETTA, March 11: The Balochistan Chief Minister, Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, has issued orders to initially release Rs150 million for the immediate rehabilitation of those affected by the Quetta carnage on March 2. ... Rashid hopes Nawa-i-Waqt issue will be resolved ISLAMABAD, March 11: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in the National Assembly on Thursday that he hoped the issue of government advertisements for the Nawa-i-Waqt group would be resolved soon. ... ADB team reviews Pindi environment project RAWALPINDI, March 11: A team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here on Thursday discussed the implementation strategy of the ADB-funded Rawalpindi environment improvement project ... Rs142.9m revenue from hotels in 1997-2003 - NA told ISLAMABAD, March 11: The government has earned a revenue of Rs142.9 million from different hotels and restaurants of Murree from 1997 to 2003-04, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told the National Assembly on Thursday. ... Govt fails to enforce smoking ban PESHAWAR, March 11: An ordinance banning smoking in public places and tobacco's sale to minors is yet to be implemented despite the passage of a year and a half. ... Tarbela Dam output down to 300MW HARIPUR, March 11: Power generation from the Tarbela Dam has reduced to 300MW after its dead level was lowered because of less inflow of water, sources told Dawn. ... Moenjodaro walls to be repaired ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Ministry of Culture will soon start maintenance work on the walls of Moenjodaro. It was decided in a meeting of the National Fund for Moenjodaro held under the chairmanship of secretary culture, Khalid Latif Chaudhry, here on Thursday. ... America 'powerless' in face of individual violence LAHORE, March 11: The Paris-based Centre for International Peace and Conflict Resolution director Prof Bertrand Badie has said the "unipolar world has given rise to private violence which even the sole superpower of the world is powerless to control". ... Anomalies mar implementation of SLGO KARACHI, March 11: Despite a lapse of over two-and-a-half years, since the inception of local governments, the Sindh government has, so far, failed to devolve around a dozen of its departments to the city government. ...

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