15 March 2004 Monday 23 Muharram 1425 Religious parties to raise Wana operation issue in NA DERA ISMAIL KHAN, March 14: Religious parties will raise the issue of the ongoing operation against fugitive Al Qaeda and Taliban elements in Dera Ismail Khan and the South Waziristan Agency in the National Assembly on Monday, says MMA's General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman. ... PML-N wants Shujaat, Pervaiz unseated ISLAMABAD, March 14: Pakistan Muslim League-N has threatened to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retired) Irshad Hassan Khan with the Lahore High Court if he does not take action on a reference filed by the party to unseat Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. ... PPP-S defends Sherpao's role PESHAWAR, March 14: The Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) has denied that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had extended any invitation to their chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao for taking up any provincial issue with the federal government. ... National consensus on nuclear issue stressed KARACHI, March 14: Pakistan can overcome the present nuclear proliferation crisis through a national consensus, which is possible only if Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are part of the national dialogue. ... PM urged to revoke 'deal' over Hudood laws PESHAWAR, March 14: The NWFP Joint Action Committee (JAC) of civil society groups has expressed concern over a reported understanding between the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for not repealing the controversial Hudood ordinance ... JUP elects new party leader KARACHI, March 14: Shah Faridul Haq has been unanimously elected president of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan to fill in the position which had fallen vacant due to the death of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani. ... JUI-F blasts action against seminaries PESHAWAR, March 14: The provincial general council of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) here on Sunday denounced the government's action against seminaries in the country. ... Old NICs are valid for by-poll - CEC ISLAMABAD, March 14: The Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan on Sunday announced that the old national identity cards which have been cancelled by the government, would be valid for the purpose of voting in the coming by-elections. ... Relief issue to be taken up with centre: Jam QUETTA, March 14: The Balochistan chief minister has said he will take up the issue of the payment of compensation to the victims of terrorist attacks with the president and prime minister in Islamabad. ... Religious scholar warns of protests QUETTA, March 14: Allama Maqsood Ali Domki, chief of Jafaria Alliance Balochistan, has warned that if the government did not accept their demands they will be compelled to turn the Chehlum of Quetta martyrs killed in an attack on the Ashura procession into a protest movement. ... Religious leader's release demanded KARACHI, March 14: Speakers at a protest rally on Sunday demanded of the government to arrest the real culprits behind Quetta carnage and release religious leader Jan Ali Shah Kazmi. ... NEC meeting to review economic performance ISLAMABAD, March 14: The National Economic Council (NEC) meets here on Monday to consider a three-point agenda, including eight-month review of the economic performance with a robust full-year forecast and problem-ridden implementation of the development programme. ... PM announces Rs50m package for Sahiwal SAHIWAL March 14: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has announced a Rs50 million package for Sahiwal and assured another special package for the purpose of electricity in the next fiscal budget. ... Ata for closer ties between Comstech, Comsats ISLAMABAD, March 14: The minister in charge science and technology, Prof Attaur Rahman, has said the government has taken a number of steps during the last four years to include science and technology in the national development plans. ... Attock Oil Co okays $400m investment RAWALPINDI, March 14: The Attock Oil Company and its affiliates including Attock Refinery Limited and Attock Petroleum Limited, have approved investments of over $400 million in the country, it is learnt on Sunday. ... Deployment of FC, Rangers sought: 9th SAF Games security RAWALPINDI, March 14: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police have requested the government to call in the Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel to help them perform the security duty for the forthcoming 9th SAF Games, an official source told Dawn. ... Refugee repatriation begins today QUETTA, March 14: United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will resume voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees on Monday in Balochistan. ... Govt urged to ratify tobacco control convention KARACHI, March 14: Medical experts, consumers and non-governmental organizations on Sunday urged the government to take effective measures to curb tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoking in the country. ...

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