23 March 2004 Tuesday 01 Safar 1425 Musharraf, Jamali call for national unity ISLAMABAD, March 22: President General Pervez Musharraf has called upon the nation to remain steadfast and united for achieving the ideals of Pakistan as a modern and progressive Islamic welfare state, in a message on Pakistan Day issued on Monday. ... Investiture ceremony today ISLAMABAD, March 22: President General Pervez Musharraf will decorate 108 recipients of Pakistan civil awards, including three foreign nationals, at investiture ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr, here on Tuesday. ... By-polls pose threat to ARD unity LAHORE, March 22: By-election on two National Assembly seats in Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar poses a serious challenge to the unity of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy ... Nation faces '71-like situation: PML-N ISLAMABAD, March 22: The PML-N top brass has said the nation faces a situation like that of 1971 owing to the mindless and uncalled for actions of a military dictator which eventually led to dismemberment of the country. ... PPP slams Wana operation NOWSHERA, March 22: Former interior minister and PPP leader Naseerullah Khan Babar has said that the military operation against tribesmen in the South Waziristan Agency has been launched by President Pervez Musharraf ... Politicians criticize operation against tribesmen ISLAMABAD March 22: A number of political leaders on Monday opposed the ongoing military operation in the tribal areas and warned President Gen Pervez Musharraf against its dangerous repercussions. ... Maqbool defends Wana action LAHORE, March 22: The government has launched Wana operation because it wanted to move along with the rest of the world. This was stated by Governor Khalid Maqbool while talking to reporters at the APWA College for Women's convocation on Monday. ... Babar leaves for Dubai ISLAMABAD, March 22: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has summoned party Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar to Dubai, amidst fresh wave of speculations about possible contacts between the government and the PPP. ... Murad's relatives stage protest KARACHI, March 22: Relatives of PPP's murdered MPA Abdullah Murad and residents of Siddique Goth staged a protest rally outside the Sindh Assembly on Monday. ... PA debate on MPA's death, Wana ends in rumpus KARACHI, March 22: Anti-government sentiment over the murder of MPA Abdullah Murad and the military operation in Wana charged the atmosphere in the Sindh Assembly on Monday as it resumed discussion on an adjournment motion on the MPA's killing. ... JI stages rally against Israel BAHAWALPUR, March 22: The Jamaat-i-Islami staged a protest rally here on Monday against Israel for killing Hamas leader Shaikh Yasin. ... Cabinet to decide fate of tubewell subsidy: Sherpao opens power project FAISALABAD, March 22: Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the proposal to retain 35 per cent power tariff subsidy for farm tubewells will be presented before the cabinet in its next meeting. ... Bomb blast in Quetta QUETTA, March 22: A powerful bomb explosion rocked the town on Monday night causing great panic, police said. ... Israeli repression in Gaza condemned KARACHI, March 22: Scores of people on Monday staged a protest demonstration at Jamia Binoria to denounce the killing of Shaikh Ahmed Yaseen by Israeli gunships in Gaza. ... 'Pakistan on track to become polio-free' ISLAMABAD, March 22: Pakistan is moving fast on attaining the status of polio-free country as only five cases of polio have been reported during the current year against over 100 last year, said Dr Hussein A. Gezairy ... Chinese defence team arrives ISLAMABAD, March 22: A high-level Chinese defence delegation, led by Defence Minister and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission General Cao Gangchuan, arrived here on Monday ... Steps under way for teachers' welfare, says minister ISLAMABAD, March 22: Federal education minister Zobaida Jalal on Monday said welfare of teacher's community was among the priorities of the government and effective measures were being taken in this regard. ... $600m UNDP grant package reviewed ISLAMABAD, March 22: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assistant secretary-general, Hafiz A. Pasha, and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Monday reviewed the utilization of $600 million allocation for the next five-year. ... 'No Pakistani troops in S. Arabia' RIYADH, March 22: Saudi Arabia has denied that Pakistani troops were stationed in the kingdom. ... Key challenges to growth identified ISLAMABAD, March 22: Improvement in power sector and devolution still remain the key challenges to Pakistan's economic growth but more importantly, there are some major missing links to future plans for poverty reduction ... NFC signing linked to hydel profit ISLAMABAD, March 22: All the political parties belonging to NWFP on Monday supported the provincial assembly and the jirga decision that the 6th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award should not be signed ... Shatrughan, more Indians arrive LAHORE, March 22: More and more Indians are pouring in the city for the last one-day match between Pakistan and India. ... 13pc ADP portfolio's active loans at risk ISLAMABAD, March 22: Thirteen per cent of the 54 active loans constituting the Asian Development Bank's portfolio with an approved amount of $4.4 billion are "at risk", the ADB has cautioned. ... Experts discuss medical issues KARACHI, March 22: Experts at a seminar, organized by the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association, on Monday spoke about contemporary medical issues and Islam. ... PMDC plays havoc with education: delegates - PIMA convention KARACHI, March 22: There are no medical universities in the United States and Europe. Pakistan, which does not have a proper medical college, is the only country in the region which has a medical university. ... Sindh govt abetting criminals, says APC KARACHI, March 22: The All Parties Conference, organized by the Pakistan People's Party here on Monday, demanded dismissal of the Sindh government for its failure to protect life and property of common man ... 'Attack on Iraq was against int'l law' ISLAMABAD, March 22: US-led military action against Iraq is a threat to the concept of rule of law in the world, a noted scholar said here on Monday. ... 'People-to-people contact, education can bridge gap' ISLAMABAD, March 22: Education and people-to-people contact can bridge the gap of perceptions across cultures and help fight the scourge of terrorism, said the US assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs ...

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