17 March 2004 Wednesday 25 Muharram 1425 MMA meeting postponed ISLAMABAD, March 16: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) supreme council meeting fixed for Wednesday was suddenly postponed and rescheduled for Saturday (March 20). The MMA supreme council, which earlier met on March 7, had decided to launch countrywide mass contact rallies in April and May next ... PML-F accepts formula for party reunification ISLAMABAD, March 16: The PML (Functional group) has withdrawn all conditions for joining a unified Pakistan Muslim League and conveyed its acceptance of the formula put forward by S.M.Zafar during a meeting with the party's president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain ... Govt's performance disappoints presidency ISLAMABAD, March 16: The parliamentary group of PML-Q is doing without a chief whip these days as no one has been selected for the job after the death of federal minister Abdus Sattar Lalika. ... Pervaiz invites PPP deserters to Lahore BAHAWALPUR, March 16: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has reportedly invited two PPP deserters - MPAs Dr Muhammad Afzal and Shoaib Karim from Yazman - to Lahore. ... PPP-sponsored APC on 21st KARACHI, March 16: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has called for an all parties conference for evolving a joint strategy to resist the alleged victimisation of political opponents by the government. It has proposed Sunday, March 21 for the event. ... PPP leader for independent EC, judiciary ISLAMABAD, March 16: Top PPP leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said the government could be allowed to continue for five years on the basis of quid pro quo. He was speaking at a seminar on "Rule of law: ... NA bodies to be reconstituted, says speaker ISLAMABAD, March 16: Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain has appointed a three-member committee to re-constitute the National Assembly standing committees. ... Shias to observe country-wide strike on 20th ISLAMABAD, March 16: The Shia Ulema Council will stage a country-wide protest on March 20 to protest against implicating the Millat-i-Jafaria leader, Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi, in a false case, Allama Tariq Naqvi said. ... Altaf wants measures to protect heritage KARACHI, March 16: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has called for steps to protect Sindh's historical and cultural heritage. In a statement issued from London on Tuesday ... Regular hearing of Mir case urged KARACHI, March 16: The PPP-SB's central committee, at a meeting at 70 Clifton here on Tuesday, expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the proceedings of the murder case of the party's founding chairman, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, and some of his colleagues. ... SC asked to examine Dr Khan's confession ISLAMABAD, March 16: A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday with the request that the government be directed to place before a court the pardon granted to nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan for ratification. ... PPP demands probe into housing society 'scam' ISLAMABAD, March 16: The Pakistan People's Party has lodged a complaint with the National Accountability Bureau, demanding a probe into the taking over of plots bay the management of Park View Housing Society, Lahore. ... MMA blasts govt for not executing Tamir schemes PESHAWAR, March 16: The MMA lawmakers have demanded of the provincial government to execute the development schemes identified by them a year ago under the Tamir-i-Sarhad Programme and honour its commitment on the issue. ... Jamali not aware of Hyderabad package: 'No plan to convert divisions into provinces' HYDERABAD, March 16: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has categorically denied that he had announced a Rs10.5 billion development package for Hyderabad during his visit to the city in September last year. ... Minister calls for more investment in S&T ISLAMABAD, March 16: Science and technology can play a key role in the socio-economic development of any country and there is a need to invest more in this sector so that the quality of life may be improved. ... Japan to give $39.7m for health, water projects ISLAMABAD, March 16: Japan on Tuesday pledged $39.7 million grant to Pakistan for improvement of water, environment and health care projects. The Japanese government will give 4 billion yen (about Rs2.1 billion or $37 million) ... Call for enhancing SMEs' capabilities LAHORE, March 16: The small and medium sectors of a country play major role in its economic progress as well as international competitiveness and OIC members should take effective measures to enhance the capabilities of SMEs. ... Nadra told to explain basis for expiry dates on CNICs KARACHI, March 16: The Sindh High Court asked the National Database and Registration Authority on Tuesday to furnish rules and regulations ... Body formed to revive poultry industry ISLAMABAD, March 16: A committee has been formed to propose measures for the revival of poultry industry. This was decided at a meeting of the Federal Poultry Board held here on Monday. ... Ban on ads to newspaper group criticized ISLAMABAD, March 16: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has strongly condemned the ban on government advertisements to the Nawa-i-Waqt group of publications and formed an action committee to chalk out a future course of action for restoration of advertisements ... Qayyum calls for Muslim Conference unity MUZAFFARABAD, March 16: Muslim Conference's leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan on Monday expressed the desire to keep the ruling party united despite appearance of symptoms to the contrary. ... Solar system for drying dates evolved ISLAMABAD, March 16: The National Agricultural Research Centre has developed a solar dates drying system to minimize post-production losses of dates which are estimated to be around 50 per cent of the total production. ... WB's assurance to Punjab LAHORE, March 16: A senior official of the World Bank has assured uninterrupted supply of resources to the Punjab government provided it continued to effectively monitor the execution of all development projects. ... EU to provide 59m euros for education sector KARACHI, March 16: The European Union will provide 59 million euros for the education sector in Pakistan over the next three years out of a total funding of 71 million euros, says the EU's ambassador to Pakistan, Likka Uusitalo. ... UK naval chief arrives KARACHI, March 16: Admiral Sir Alan West, Britain's First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, arrived here on Monday evening. He was received at the Pakistan Navy Aviation Base by Commander Karachi Rear-Admiral Asad Qureshi ... Blast damages railway line SUKKUR, March 16: The main railway line was damaged on Tuesday by a bomb blast near Mehrabpur early Tuesday morning, forcing suspension of the train service for several hours. ... More security for trains LAHORE, March 16: For better security arrangements on trains, the railway authorities have decided to deploy more commandos. General Manager (Operations) Aurangzeb Khan said that 160 commandos who had completed training at the Walton academy and were waiting for a formal pass-out ... Joint wedding ceremony for 200 couples NOWSHERA, March 16: MMA's acting president Qazi Hussain Ahmad has said that a joint wedding ceremony for 200 couples would be held here on March 21. Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday ...

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