08 April 2004 Thursday 17 Safar 1425 MQM defends stance on NSC ISLAMABAD, April 7: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has defended its decision to support the National Security Council (NSC) bill in the National Assembly saying it is aimed at maintaining the supremacy of Parliament. ... Govt accused of opposing bill on women's right ISLAMABAD, April 7: Pakistan People's Party Women's Parliamentary Policy Committee has criticized the prime minister's adviser for women development for opposing PPPP initiatives in parliament on women issues. ... Judgment covers entire Sharif family: Counsel LAHORE, April 7: Justice (retired) Malik Muhammad Qayyum who represented former Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and obtained permission for his client to come back to the country ... Decision will restore faith in apex court, says Shahbaz LAHORE, April 7: PML-N president and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has issued a statement which says: "The apex court, by its decision to allow me to return home ... Verdict on Shahbaz's return welcomed SUKKUR, April 7: The Sindh High Court Bar Association, Sukkur, on Wednesday welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, allowing Mian Shahbaz Sharif to return to the country. ... LHC to take up Hamza's petition today LAHORE, April 7: The Lahore High Court will hear on Thursday the petition of Hamza Shahbaz, seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List. ... PA debate on MPA's death fuels acrimony KARACHI, April 7: The lacklustre debate on the killing of MPA Abdullah Murad continued in the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday and members expressed their concern over the deteriorating law and order situation. ... Govt not aware of armed raid, claims Khuhro KARACHI, April 7: While slamming the government for failing to apprehend killers of MPA Abdullah Murad, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro on Wednesday pointed out that some persons fired gunshots at the residence of the MPA's father-in-law. ... PA session convened on 13th PESHAWAR, April 7: NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jahan Khan has convened an assembly session on April 13 to dispose of the agenda submitted by the opposition in the last session. ... Cabinet proposes law on pesticides ISLAMABAD, April 7: The federal cabinet on Wednesday constituted a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Law, Industries, Food and Agriculture and the National Reconstruction Bureau to propose a draft law to combat adulteration in pesticides. ... Sales tax on farm inputs to stay, NA informed ISLAMABAD, April 7: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told the National Assembly here on Wednesday that the government was not considering any proposal to withdraw sales tax on agriculture inputs. ... Equal status demanded for all federating units KARACHI, April 7: Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) has demanded equal status to all units of the federation and said if there was no justice with the federating units, such a federation could never be a strong federation. ... WB assures city govt of financial assistance KARACHI, April 7: World Bank Director John Wall has assured Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan of all possible financial cooperation in the city's development projects. ... ADB team to assess access to justice programme LAHORE, April 7: A federal monitoring committee comprising Asian Development Bank senior officials is arriving here in a day or two to assess the implementation of the ADB-funded access to justice programme in the Punjab. ... $20m to fight HIV, TB, malaria sought ISLAMABAD, April 7: Pakistan has applied for an international grant of $20 million from the Global Fund to fight diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, said Tommy G. Thompson ... Plan may be finalized next year - Gas import from Iran LAHORE, April 7: The plan for import of natural gas from Iran is likely to be finalized by 2005. This was stated by, managing director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited Managing Director Rashid Lone at a press conference here on Wednesday. ... APNS case hearing to conclude today ISLAMABAD, April 7: The Supreme Court bench hearing the APNS petition challenging the vires of the law under which the Wage Board is constituted to determine the salaries of newspaper workers ... NGOs' role in social development hailed KARACHI, April 7: Civil society organizations have an impressive history of substantial contribution to the socio-economic and political development in the country and there are new opportunities evolving gradually for NGOs. ...

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