01 April 2004 Thursday 10 Safar 1425 War of words mars NA session ISLAMABAD, March 31: Members of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday had a verbal clash during the National Assembly session following the remarks made by Federal Minister for Communications Babar Ghouri about the role of the religious leaders during the Afghan war. ... Qazi Hussain re-elected Jamaat chief LAHORE, March 31: Qazi Husain Ahmed will begin his fifth consecutive term as amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami in April with more determined efforts to evolve a consensus among political parties of all shades of opinion, including the ruling PML ... NSC bill may be tabled in current NA session NAWABSHAH, March 31: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali has said that the National Security Council bill may be presented in the current session of the National Assembly. He talking to a delegation of the Nawabshah Press Club at circuit house here on Tuesday. He said that doors were always kept open in politics but there was no possibility of any pact with the People's Party Parliamentarians in near further. ... Opposition requisitions fresh PA session: 9-point agenda submitted PESHAWAR, March 31: The combined opposition in the NWFP Assembly on Wednesday submitted a requisition with the speaker's secretariat for convening a fresh session after Speaker Bakht Jahan Khan prorogued the house for an indefinite period earlier in the day. ... Benazir denies role in illegal PIAC hirings KARACHI, March 31: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto denied on Wednesday allegations by the prosecution pertaining to illegal appointments in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) during her tenure and said these are not supported by any evidence. ... MQM seeks amendments to Hudood laws ISLAMABAD, March 31: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted four bills to the National Assembly Secretariat seeking amendments to Hudood laws, informed sources told Dawn here on Wednesday. ... PPP slams Sindh govt over y-elections KARACHI, March 31: The Pakistan Peoples Party's Karachi coordination committee on Wednesday slammed the provincial government and its coalition components for allegedly employing fascist methods against opposition candidates ... Opposition leader assails MMA govt HARIPUR, March 31: The leader of the opposition in the NWFP Assembly, Shahzada Gustasap Khan, has said that although he needed only nine members to dislodge the MMA's government ... President's remarks criticized RAWALPINDI, March 31: The local leaders of Muttahida Majlis- i-Amal (MMA) have criticized the remarks of President Gen Pervez Musharraf against the party's acting chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad. ... Immediate halt to Wana operation demanded KARACHI, March 31: Demanding an immediate halt to the military operation in Wana, South Waziristan, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has said that the elements trying to pit ordinary people against army would never succeed in their nefarious designs. ... More districts to be created, says Jamali DADU, March 31: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the government will create more districts out of the existing ones which now have big jurisdictions. ... Govt asked to decide remission question KARACHI, March 31: A Sindh High Court division bench asked the provincial home secretary to decide the question of remissions allowed to former banker Yunus Habib, who was convicted of banking offences by a special court in 1995, after hearing the convict. ... Stability in Afghanistan vital: Kasuri BERLIN, March 31: Foreign inister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Wednesday that Pakistan had an abiding and profound interest in early return of stability in Afghanistan. He was speaking at the international conference on Afghanistan here. ... Software being developed to check pornography ISLAMABAD, March 31: Parliamentary secretary for establishment Asjad Malhi on Thursday told the National Assembly that the government was developing software to block pornographic sites on the internet. ... No attention paid to political conflict over water: WB - Social sector needs being ignored ISLAMABAD, March 31: The World Bank has raised serious questions on Pakistan's moves to simultaneously pursue a number of irrigation projects despite high demands for funds to support poverty reduction, social sectors and devolution reforms. ... Rs9bn being spent on higher education: Ata ISLAMABAD, March 31: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman, on Wednesday said the government was spending Rs5 billion on the promotion of higher education in the country and the amount would be enhanced to Rs9 billion in the near future. ... Large quantity of drugs burnt QUETTA, March 31: The Pakistan Customs burnt over 22 metric tonnes of drugs, including heroin and hashish, in Ghaza Band area here on Wednesday. ... Ban on student unions to stay, says minister ISLAMABAD, March 31: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal on Wednesday said the government was not considering to lift the 22-year-old ban on student unions or hold their election in the country. ... Dope testing being carried out ISLAMABAD, March 31: Pakistan has taken the initiative to carry out dope testing of local and foreign participants of 9th SAF Games. Urine samples of gold medalists have already been dispatched to a laboratory in Bangkok ... Russian team ready to help PS expansion RAWALPINDI, March 31: A Russian business delegation called on President General Pervez Musharraf here Wednesday and expressed its readiness to help in the expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills. ... Army officials in civil depts stop wearing uniform ISLAMABAD, March 31: All army officials deputed in civil departments on Wednesday stopped wearing uniform, a GHQ notification said. ... 28 herbs selected for plantation ISLAMABAD, March 31: The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) has selected 28 plants for cultivation in farmers' fields under a project to introduce medicinal herbs and species as crops, it has been learnt. ... Saudi air force chief decorated RAWALPINDI, March 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on Gen Abdul Aziz Bin Mohamed, Commander Royal Saudi Air Force, at a special Investiture ceremony on Wednesday. ... Sindh opposes NFC award on population basis SUKKUR, March 31: Sindh Minister for Population Welfare Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has said that he and others in the provincial government have requested the prime minister to persuade Punjab to adopt positive attitude on the NFC award issue. ... Arif Nizami re-elected APNS president KARACHI, March 31: Arif Nizami of the Nawa-i-Waqt Group and Mohammad Aslam Kazi of daily Kawishwere re-elected president and secretary-general of the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society by the newly-elected executive committee here on Tuesday. ... Post office told to return Rs100m within 15 days - Rs298m fraud case KARACHI, March 31: The Sindh High Court asked the Pakistan Post Office on Wednesday to deposit Rs100 million out of the deposits admittedly misappropriated at its City Courts savings centre with the SHC nazir within 15 days. ...

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