18 April 2004 Sunday 27 Safar 1425 Musharraf in uniform not acceptable, says MMA LAHORE, April 17: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will not accept the president in uniform after Dec 31, deputy secretary-general Liaqat Baloch said on Saturday. The alliance has neither entered into any agreement with the government on uniform or the National Security Council issues ... ARD urges EU not to ratify commercial agreement ISLAMABAD, April 17: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has urged the European Parliament not to extend legitimacy to what he said the quasi- military dictatorship in Pakistan and refuse to endorse the economic cooperation agreement ... JUI-F demands dismissal of Sindh govt: Poor law and order SUKKUR, April 17: The general council meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) has urged the federal government to dismiss the Sindh government for its failure to control law and order, joblessness and price hike. ... Opposition criticizes 'autocratic policies' QUETTA, April 17: Leaders of the Pakistan People's Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and nationalist parties on Saturday vowed to continue their struggle against the military dictatorship and for the strengthening of the federal parliamentary system. ... Asif calls for political solution to Wana issue ISLAMABAD, April 17: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader and former senator Asif Ali Zardari has called for finding a political solution to the Wana problem. ... Investigation officer in Hashmi case summoned LAHORE, April 17: Accountability Court Judge Syed Shafqat Ali on Saturday summoning the investigation officer of an illegal assets reference against acting PML-N president and MNA Makhdoom Javed Hashmi for recording his statement adjourned the proceedings for April 28. ... UN must act now to stop war on Iraq, says Mumtaz KARACHI, April 17: The Sindh National Front (SNF) Chairman, Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, has said that the United Nations must act now to stop massacre of innocent Iraqis on their own soil. ... ANP wants Pukhtun areas' unification QUETTA, April 17: The Awami National Party has been struggling to unite the divided Pukhtun areas into a single administrative set up as it never recognized the division of the Pukhtun ethnic entity, says Awami National Party chief Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan. ... ANP criticizes Sherpao PESHAWAR, April 17: The Awami National Party has criticized Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao for his inability to strive for the attainment of the rights of Pukhtuns while being twice the chief minister of the province. ... Senate standing bodies to elect chairmen ISLAMABAD, April 17: Senate standing committees on defence and defence production, foreign affairs, Kashmir and Northern Areas affairs, petroleum and natural resources and industries and production will separately meet here at the Parliament House on Monday to elect their chairmen. ... Tasman sailors allowed to go home KARACHI, April 17: All the eight Greek sailors, including seven crew members of Tasman Spirit, and its salvage master were allowed to go home by the Judicial Magistrate, West, Mumtaz Ali Solangi, on Saturday. ... Pakistan economy flourishing, says UN ISLAMABAD, April 17: The United Nations has said in a survey report that the gross domestic product of Pakistan has increased by over five per cent because of improvement in the country's economy. ... Kasuri reiterates stand on Kashmir LAHORE, April 17: Foreign Minister Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri has reiterated Islamabad's stand that Pakistan and India need to show flexibility rather than stick to the stated positions on Kashmir to settle the issue. ... Five IT projects approved ISLAMABAD, April 17: Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Saturday approved five projects to expand IT base and use information technology as a tool to ensure efficient delivery of public services in provincial governments. ... PSDP volume to be raised to Rs200bn in next budget LAHORE, April 17: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Ishrat Husain said on Saturday that the volume of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be increased to Rs200 billion in the budget for 2004-05 from present Rs160 billion. ... Army to monitor water project ISLAMABAD, April 17: The federal government has hired the services of the Pakistan Army for monitoring the implementation of the proposed Rs71.2 billion "National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses" project in Pakistan. ... Production of power plants' equipment to be increased ISLAMABAD, April 17: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has decided to increase the local production of mechanical equipment and sophisticated components and parts required for the upcoming nuclear power plants ... ADB team to discuss loan for AJK MUZAFFARABAD, April 17: An Asian Development Bank (ADB) mission is due to arrive here on Monday for a three-day visit to discuss the extension of loan to Azad Jammu and Kashmir for multi-sector rehabilitation projects. ... Clue about terrorists obtained: Durrani PESHAWAR, April 17: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said on Saturday that important information has been obtained about those involved in rocket attacks on the city and their designs. ... PN chief reviews safety practices KARACHI, April 17: The nation spends a significant amount of its resources to support armed forces infrastructure and it becomes incumbent upon the forces to take utmost care to ensure safety of men and material while planning and executing operations both at sea and ashore. ... MNCs urged to assist govt in health sector KARACHI, April 17: Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan has called upon multinational companies to assist the government efforts in the provision of basic necessities to the poor ... Availability of insulin at affordable rates urged KARACHI, April 17: Medical experts from different parts of the world, mainly from Asia, speaking at the first scientific session of the Fifth Diabetes in Asia Conference ... Measures to provide relief to women highlighted: Seminar on rights KARACHI, April 17: Speakers at a seminar on Saturday said that the Constitution and religion guaranteed many rights to women, but they were not getting the rights owing to socio-cultural traditions prevailing in this society. ... Farmers vow to continue struggle for rights ISLAMABAD, April 17: The International Day of Farmers' Struggle (IDFS) was observed here on Saturday with the resolve to resist the policies of the government and international players aimed at depriving the small farmers of their rights. ...

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