19 March 2004 Friday 27 Muharram 1425 Amendment in Citizenship Act sought ISLAMABAD, March 18: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has submitted a bill to the National Assembly Secretariat seeking amendment to the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951, a source told Dawn here on Thursday. According to the source, the bill has been submitted by party MNA Kanwar Khalid Yunus ... MQM holds key to country's salvation: Altaf KARACHI, March 18: Claiming that his party alone held the key to the country's salvation, progress and prosperity, the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, on Thursday vowed to oppose theocracy tooth and nail and criticized the MMA for crticizing the US for operation in the tribal areas. ... Sindh cabinet to be expanded further - CM KARACHI, March 18: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar has said that the provincial cabinet would be expanded further in the due course of time. ... Sindh PA session begins today KARACHI, March 18: A heated debate on the law and order situation, especially against the backdrop of recent murder of PPP MPA Abdullah Murad, is likely to be witnessed in the Sindh Assembly which meets here on Friday. ... Shujaat rejects Taiwan referendum ISLAMABAD, March 18: The PML-Q president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has rejected the proposed Taiwan referendum being held on March 20. In a statement issued here, Chaudhry Shujaat said the PML and the government firmly believed that there was only one China and that Taiwan was a part of it. ... NWFP govt demands end to Wana operation PESHAWAR, March 18: NWFP senior minister Sirajul Haq has urged the federal government to end what he called an operation against the tribesmen in South Waziristan and leave them alone to take action against aliens hiding in the area. ... MMA's MPA to be indicted on 26th PESHAWAR, March 18: A Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's MPA, Mr Akhter Nawaz Khan, and two former police constables will be indicted for drug trafficking by the court of additional district and sessions judge Shehbar Khan on March 26. ... Muttahida accused of excesses KARACHI, March 18: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Thursday accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of trying to sabotage development process in Karachi by creating hurdles for the city government and town administrations. ... Arrests of JSQM leaders condemned HYDERABAD, March 18: The Jeay Sindh Muttahida has condemned arrests of JSQM leaders and raids on the houses of JSMM leader Singhar Noonari and JSQM leaders Sarmad Mirani, Arbab Khuhawar and Rooplo Choliyani. ... AGP's views on Omar's shifting sought KARACHI, March 18: An anti-terrorism appellate bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday issued a notice to attorney general to appear before the court on April 6 and explain the reason for shifting Ahmad Omar Shaikh ... US team discusses consulate security plan with adviser KARACHI, March 18: A three-member team of US security officials held a detailed meeting with Aftab Shaikh, adviser to Sindh chief minister on home affairs, on Thursday and discussed with him security plan for the US consulate. ... Govt asked to reduce Mirani Dam height ISLAMABAD, March 18: MNA from Balochistan Rauf Mengal has called upon the government to reduce the height of Mirani Dam by at least 10 feet in order to mitigate its adverse effects on the people in upstream and downstream areas. ... SBP chief rules out single currency in S.Asia ISLAMABAD, March 18: State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Hussain has ruled out the idea of single currency in South Asia and said it required a lot of spade work. ... Sikandar, Sultan strike deal MUZAFFARABAD, March 18: The Azad Kashmir People's Party has assured Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat that it would not cash in on the crisis in the Muslim Conference, sources said on Thursday. ... 'PBC hired 296 resource persons in three years' ISLAMABAD, March 18: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday told the National Assembly that 296 people were appointed as resource persons in Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) between October 12, 1999 and November 15, 2002. ... Processing of PHPL's application allowed KARACHI, March 18: The Sindh High Court allowed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Thursday to process the applications received by it for satellite television stations ... PTCL workers end 10-day hunger strike ISLAMABAD, March 18: The daily-wage workers of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL), have called off their hunger strike after an assurance by the government that their demands will be partially accepted. ... Project to end child labour in carpet industry ISLAMABAD, March 18: The government has launched a project to eliminate child labour in carpet industry, the National Assembly was told on Thursday. In a written statement, it was stated that under the programme launched in collaboration with the ILO ... UK naval chief meets president ISLAMABAD, March 18: First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Royal British Navy, Admiral Sir Alan West, called on President General Pervez Musharraf, Chairman Joint Chief's of Staff Committee Gen Aziz Khan and Naval chief Admiral Shahid Karimullah, here on Thursday. ... Proposals for developing SMEs formulated - OIC task force meeting ends LAHORE, March 18: The third meeting of OIC Task Force on Small and Medium Enterprises concluded here on Thursday after formulating four proposals for consideration and approval of the executive committee of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ... Progress hampered by high incidence of TB - Nasir stresses effective preventive steps ISLAMABAD, March 18: The high prevalence of tuberculosis in Pakistan has led to increase in poverty, destruction of social fabric, marginalization of workforce and retarding of overall economic progress. ... Environment to be included in textbooks, says minister ISLAMABAD, March 18: The ministry of environment in collaboration with the education ministry is working on a four- year project to include chapters on environment awareness in school curriculum from class I ... Armymen in civil depts told not to wear uniforms ISLAMABAD, March 18: Army officials deputed in civil departments on secondment basis will stop wearing army uniforms by March 31, 2004, a letter issued from the General Headquarters said. ... Bomb blast in Quetta QUETTA, March 18: A bomb exploded near the Shahbaz town area late Thursday night but it caused no loss of life or damage to property, officials said. ...

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