26 March 2004 Friday 04 Safar 1425 PPP demands transfer of power to parliament ISLAMABAD, March 25: The foreign liaison committee (FLC) of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has called upon President Gen Pervez Musharraf to unconditionally transfer power to the elected representatives of the people. ... ARD meeting today ISLAMABAD, March 25: A meeting of the heads of the component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) will be held here on Friday. The meeting to be held at the residence of Naveed Malik will be presided over by the ARD chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim. ... Politicians call for unity to face challenges KARACHI, March 25: The top leaders of political parties have cautioned the people against machinations of the United States and underlined the imperative need for unity in their rank and file in order to face challenges. ... Fata MNA opposes operation in Wana ISLAMABAD Mar 25: A pro-government tribal MNA from Kurram agency, Munir Khan Orakzai, on Thursday resented the military operation in the tribal areas and said it would only fuel the fire of armed confrontation in the area. ... ANP voices concern over Peshawar attack PESHAWAR, March 25: Expressing concern over rocket attack on Peshawar, Awami National Party (ANP) has termed it a "spillover effect" of the military operation in South Waziristan and the country's Afghan policy. ... PA admits motion on rocket attacks: Holiday on death anniversaries of 4 caliphs sought PESHAWAR, March 25: The provincial assembly has admitted a joint adjournment motion for a debate on the situation arising out of Tuesday's rocket attacks in Peshawar in the wake of Wana operation. ... Militants may have fled during operation ISLAMABAD, March 25: An unknown number of Al Qaeda-linked militants may have escaped a Pakistani army siege of tribal villages near the Afghan border, a senior local security official said on Thursday. ... Lawyers protest over Wana today KARACHI, March 25: Lawyers of Sindh will join their colleagues across the country in observing Friday as a day of protest against the military action in Wana and Waziristan. ... PPP-S leader criticizes govt's performance PESHAWAR, March 25: The provincial government has lost the people's confidence because of its poor performance, says leader of the Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao group) MPA Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao. ... NA-190: PML-Q yet to field candidate BAHAWALPUR, March 25: The ruling coalition is still undecided about the awarding of a party ticket to any potential candidate for NA-190 (Bahawalnagar 111) bypolls. ... Ex-MNA's remand in Azam case extended RAWALPINDI, March 25: The special anti-terrorism court (ATC) No-1 here on Thursday extended the physical remand of former MNA Nawab Amanullah Khan Sial in Maulana Azam Tariq murder case for another four days. ... Vietnam, Pakistan agree to boost trade in various fields ISLAMABAD, March 25: Pakistan and Vietnam on Thursday agreed to boost economic and trade ties and work together in areas of education, health, agriculture and science and technology. ... Chinese defence team in Lahore LAHORE, March 25: Chinese Defence Minister Gen Cao Gangchuan arrived here on Thursday. Gen Gangchuan, who is also the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and State Councillor, is leading a 22-member delegation. ... President, PM send greetings to Bangladesh ISLAMABAD, March 25: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali have felicitated President of Bangladesh Professor Iajuddin Ahmed on the occasion of their National Day falling on March 26. ... Afghan DPs being shifted from S. Waziristan DERA ISMAIL KHAN, March 25: Federal Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that the government is shifting Afghan refugees from the South Waziristan Agency to safer places because of, what he said, the ongoing military operation against foreign elements there. ... CJ refers case to Ehtesab Bureau MUZAFFARABAD, March 25: Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Syed Manzoor Hussain Gillani has referred the case of a teacher who had levelled some serious allegations against the education department ... Safety advice for UN personnel PESHAWAR, March 25: The United Nations has asked its staffers to limit their movements only to the city following the missiles attack on the provincial metropolis on late Tuesday night, official sources told Dawn on Thursday. ... ADB team seeks project reports KARACHI, March 25: An Asian Development Bank team, under the leadership of Mashooq Ali Shah, held a meeting with Sindh minister for development Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari here on Wednesday to review development projects being executed with the collaboration of ADB. ... Telecom sector suffered Rs80m loss, says report: Lack of record maintenance ISLAMABAD, March 25: The telecommunications sector suffered a loss of Rs80 million during the year 2001-02 due to lack of maintenance of permanent monetary records, Auditor General of Pakistan report stated. ... Army bans 374 drugs from military hospitals ISLAMABAD, March 25: The General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army has banned the prescription of 374 medicines in military hospitals, and has directed doctors to offer low priced drugs to the patients instead. ... Rs270bn projected for provinces - NFC award for 2004-05 ISLAMABAD, March 25: Provincial share in the federal divisible pool under the next NFC award has been projected at over Rs270 billion for the year 2004-05, up by over 26 per cent over the budgeted Rs214 billion for the current fiscal year, it is learnt. ... 18 uplift projects worth Rs13.8bn approved ISLAMABAD, March 25: The government has approved 18 development projects at a cost of Rs 13.8 billion including Rs 7.4 billion for the five-year Population Welfare Programme for Punjab. ... Vietnamese president in city KARACHI, March 25: The President of Vietnam, Tran Duc Luong, arrived here on Thursday evening from Islamabad on the second leg of his four-day visit to Pakistan. ... Vietnamese president visits Taxila Museum ISLAMABAD, March 25: Vietnamese president Tran Duc Luong, who is on a 3-day official tour to Pakistan, visited Taxila Museum on Thursday. ...

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