17 April 2004 Saturday 26 Safar 1425 Apology calms down uproar over NSC bill in Senate ISLAMABAD, April 16: An unusual government apology for rushing through the National Security Council bill and behind-the-scene efforts calmed down an opposition uproar in the Senate on Friday ... 'MMA seeks supremacy of parliament' ISLAMABAD, April 16: MNA Mian Mohammad Aslam has said the primary objective of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is complete restoration of Constitution and supremacy of the parliament. ... PPP leader criticizes Musharraf LAHORE, April 16: Ms Benazir Bhutto's political secretary Naheed Khan believes that Gen Pervez Musharraf will not take off his uniform by the end of the year and will go for the dissolution of assemblies ... 'Some members can return by end-2005': Govt-Sharif family deal ISLAMABAD, April 16: Some members of the Sharif family, which had left the country in December 2000 for Saudi Arabia after allegedly striking a deal with the military government, would be able to return to Pakistan in December 2005. ... Opposition blames govt for Peshawar rocket attacks PESHAWAR, April 16: The NWFP Assembly on Friday condemned Thursday's the rocket attacks on the city by unidentified terrorists, and said that the attack was a repeat of earlier attacks on the provincial capital. ... Govt roundly criticized over Murad's killing KARACHI, April 16: Barring a few rounds of altercation between the treasury and opposition members and a brief suspension of proceedings resulting from the heated exchanges, the Sindh Assembly session on Friday remained peaceful. ... Karachi as safe as any big city of world: Ibad KARACHI, April 16: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad said on Friday that the present government had restored law and order in the province and Karachi was now as peaceful and safe as any other big city of the world. ... Military ties improving with India, Pakistan: US NEW YORK, April 16: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday US military ties with Pakistan and India have improved underscoring "we value our relationship with each country." ... Hudood laws termed discriminatory KARACHI, April 16: A meeting of the Women Action Forum (WAF) has urged the government to repeal the Hudood laws, saying these were discriminatory towards various sections of the society, particularly, the women. ... Japanese govt to fund Daducha Dam project RAWALPINDI, April 16: The government of Japan has shown its willingness to finance the construction of Daducha Dam on Ling River during its financial year 2004-05, Dawn has learnt. ... UN move on making polio eradication a priority task ISLAMABAD, April, 16: The United Nations System in Pakistan has taken the initiative to reach out to the highest policy- makers and government executives in Pakistan to place the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) as a top priority at all levels. ... Badr allowed to visit UK LAHORE, April 16: The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed People's Party secretary-general Jahangir Badr to leave for England for a period of 20 days beginning April 25. ... Devolution break from status quo, says NRB ISLAMABAD, April 16: Chairman National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Daniyal Aziz said on Friday that devolution plan and police reforms constituted a break from the status quo in the country. ... Khuhro blames govt for chaos KARACHI, April 16: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday again held the treasury benches responsible for disorder in the house. ... Poppy crop in three villages destroyed QUETTA, April 16: The Pishin Scouts and other law-enforcement agencies on Friday destroyed poppy crop in three villages of Gulistan tehsil. "Nobody offered resistance during the operation," Pishin Scouts Commandant Col Basit Rana told Dawn. ... Arms recovery stirs uproar KARACHI, April 16: Press reports about the recovery of arms from the official car of a provincial minister created a stir in the Sindh Assembly on Friday with opposition members holding the minister responsible ...

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