13 April 2004 Tuesday 22 Safar 1425 PM vows to bolster democracy ISLAMABAD, April 12: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Monday reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue working for strengthening democratic institutions. ... Shahbaz to return in a couple of months: PML-N criticizes govt PESHAWAR, April 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (N) has announced that party president Mian Shahbaz Sharif will be returning to Pakistan in a couple of months. ... Two testify against Javed Hashmi: Illegal assets case LAHORE, April 12: Accountability Court Judge Syed Shafqat Ali on Monday recorded statements of two more prosecution witnesses in an illegal assets reference against acting PML-N president and MNA Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and adjourned proceedings for April 17. ... PML-Q candidate wins NA seat: ARD alleges fraud MULTAN, April 12: Ruling party's Tahir Basheer Cheema, a PPP deserter, won the NA-190 (Chishtian) bypoll on Monday amid sporadic incidents of violence and allegations of vote fraud by the ARD. ... ANP urges withdrawal of 17th Amendment QUETTA, April 12: Awami National Party chief Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the withdrawal of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and annulment of the National Security Council Act were necessary for the restoration of the sovereignty of parliament ... Subscribers vexed by inadequate coverage: Azad Kashmir mobile phone service MUZAFFARABAD, April 12: Operators of a telecommunication network in Azad Kashmir, Special Communications Organization, launched the sale of mobile phone connections here on Monday. ... PPP fears about rigging in by-election KARACHI, April 12: Leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Monday demanded that foreign observers be invited to monitor by-elections in the province. ... JUI-F workers take out procession SUKKUR, April 12: Hundreds of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) workers took out a procession here on Monday after inclusion of the names of 22 JUI-F activists, including Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, in the list of suspects terrorists. ... JUP plans anti-US protest on 16th LAHORE, April 12: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan will observe the coming Friday (April 16) as "Down with US Day" to condemn desecration of Imam Abu Hanifa's shrine in Iraq. ... 'Pakistan backs nuclear energy use for peace' ISLAMABAD, April 12: Pakistan has always shown keen interest in the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and believes in regional cooperation for the utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful applications ... Musharraf should remain COAS, says Saifullah LAHORE, April 12: The secretary-general of the ruling PML-Q here on Monday added his voice to the PPP-Patriots proposal that Gen Pervez Musharraf should continue to stay as army chief even after December 31, the deadline set by the 17th constitutional amendment. ... British national released ISLAMABAD, April 12: The government has released a British national of Pakistani origin who had been arrested on Oct 31, 2003 on suspicion of Al Qaeda links. ... Supreme Court validates demotion of two civil servants ISLAMABAD, April 12: The Supreme Court on Monday approved the demotion of two civil servants without "formal inquiry" under the Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance, promulgated by President Gen Musharraf in 2001. ... Textbooks of all boards to be reviewed: Zobaida ISLAMABAD, April 12: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal has said the ministry will review textbooks of all boards to point out objectionable material if any. According to a press release issued here on Monday ... STB moves to carry out corrections KARACHI, April 12: The Sindh Textbook Board has taken immediate steps to expurgate objectionable and unsavoury materials from its two school textbooks, which were prepared under the Asian Development Bank funded Middle School Project, said official sources. ... APNS decides to file petitions in high courts KARACHI, April 12: The Wage Board Committee of the All- Pakistan Newspapers Society met on Monday in Karachi under APNS president Arif Nizami to consider available remedies arising out of the short order of the Supreme Court ... UCs focal point for small uplift schemes: Daniyal ISLAMABAD, April 12: Fifty years ago, renowned economist Albert Waterston wrote a book "Planning in Pakistan" wherein he advocated that the country should start with small schemes with participation of local population. ... Conviction of ex-official of FIA set aside KARACHI, April 12: The Sindh High Court set aside on Monday the conviction and punishment of a Federal Investigation Agency deputy director and two others by an accountability court and remanded the case for separate retrials. ... 'Globalization, poverty lead to human trafficking' ISLAMABAD, April 12: Globalization has facilitated the mobility of money and goods but unfortunately human mobility across the borders has been restricted more rigidly which combined with poverty ... Distribution firms to fix separate power tariffs ISLAMABAD, April 12: All the distribution companies of Wapda would have their separate electricity rates when the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) releases its determinations ...

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