13 March 2004 Saturday 21 Muharram 1425 MMA still lays claim to opposition leader slot ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) continues to lay claim to the office of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly even after an unceremonious exit of both opposition groups from the opposition leader's chamber ... Sindh MNA seeks minorities safety ISLAMABAD, March 12: People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) minority MNA from Sindh, Ramesh Lal, has accused the government of victimizing opposition members and expressed his concern over law and order situation in the province. ... Ibad sees flawless security measures: Pakistan-India match KARACHI, March 12: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has described the one-day cricket match between Pakistan and India here on Saturday as 'a big peace initiative'. ... 2 CDA officials suspended: Opposition leader office's issue ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday suspended its two senior officials for allowing the opposition leaders to sit in the chambers of 'leader of the Opposition' ... 44,000 people to be displaced, NA told: Mangla Dam raising ISLAMABAD, March 12: Raising of the Mangla Dam will displace 44,000 persons and damage 8,000 houses, the National Assembly was told here on Friday. During the question-hour session, the water and power minister, in a written reply ... Speaker seeks timely replies to legislators' questions ISLAMABAD, March 12: The National Assembly Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, on Friday directed the federal ministers and the parliamentary secretaries to ensure their presence in the House ... WB to extend assistance ISLAMABAD, March 12: The World Bank executive board has decided to extend concessional assistance through the International Development Association (IDA) to Pakistan in infrastructure sector like water and irrigation ... Court dismisses pleas against detention ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed two different petitions challenging the detention of Al Qaeda activists in Pakistani jails. ... SHC restrains Pemra on satellite TV issue KARACHI, March 12: The Sindh High Court restrained the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on Friday from finalizing the process of granting licences for satellite TV broadcast stations on an application moved by the Pakistan Herald Publications Limited. ... Court moved against sale of Tasman's wreckage KARACHI, March 12: The Sindh High Court issued notices to the owners of Tasman Spirit, the Karachi Port Trust, its official assignee and other opponents on Friday in an application seeking a restraint order ... Wasim Akram's bail confirmed KARACHI, March 12: The District and Sessions Judge, South, Justice Syed Saeed Hasan, confirmed the bail of Wasim Akram, a former cricketer, in a case of cheating. The former skipper was booked in the case on a complaint of his friend, Saadat Hiyat, who alleged that he (Wasim Akram) had taken away his (complainant's) Potohar jeep to Lahore. The test player had earlier obtained an anticipatory bail in the case. ... HRCP holds agencies responsible for Quetta massacre QUETTA, March 12: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Balochistan chapter, Vice-Chairperson, Malik Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani advocate, has said that information his organization has collected from citizens reveals that most of the people killed in the March 2 Aashura mourning procession massacre were shot dead by members of law-enforcement agencies. ... Australia to go for third-party testing of wheat ISLAMABAD, March 12: Australia has decided to go ahead unilaterally with third-party testing of a disputed wheat consignment, rejected by Pakistan on grounds the wheat is infected by the Karnal Bunt fungus, the Australian High Commission announced here on Friday. ... Jamali announces Rs100m for GCU LAHORE, March 12: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said whenever Pakistan appears to be surmounting its difficulties and arrives at the threshold of an economic breakthrough, hidden hands ... Writers urged to shape up Saarc future LAHORE, March 12: Federal Education Minister Zubaida Jalal has called upon the South Asian writers to chart a practicable roadmap to achieve the goals of the association. ... Women literati get their act together LAHORE, March 12: A confluence of the literati at the inaugural day of the 10th Saarc Writers Conference emphasized the need for removing linguistic barriers to ensure harmonious living. ... Govt urged to restore student unions KARACHI, March 12: Leading politicians and student leaders at the All Parties Conference, on Friday, called for joint struggle for the rights of students and urged the government to restore student unions at all educational institutes. ... Iran's N-plan: IAEA seeks Pakistan's help NEW YORK, March 12: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is seeking Islamabad's permission to acquire environmental samples from the Pakistani uranium enrichment facilities to see if they match the weapons-grade traces its inspectors found in Iran ... Teachers seek tax exemption KARACHI, March 12: The newly-elected office-bearers of All Pakistan Professors and Lecturer's Association have demanded of the government to exempt teachers' income from tax in future. ... 'No cigarette ads during matches' ISLAMABAD, March 12: PTV has decided not to screen cigarette commercials during the ongoing Pakistan-India cricket match series. The first match in the series begins in Karachi on Saturday. ... Labour ministry warns against fake agents ISLAMABAD, March 12: Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment has said people desirous of employment abroad, especially in Malaysia, should be careful of fake recruiting agents. ... Modern techniques facilitate liver transplant KARACHI, March 12: Liver transplantation has emerged as an established treatment in most parts of the world since 1983, as not only new drugs were introduced for immunosuppression, but also due to availability of better preservation fluids for the liver. ...

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