23 April 2004 Friday 02 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 NSC infringes on provincial autonomy: PPP ISLAMABAD, April 22: The hastily constituted National Security Council (NSC) will militarize the 1973 Constitution and infringes upon the provincial autonomy, said PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani here on Thursday. ... Sardar Assef foresees 18th amendment LAHORE, April 22: Former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali has said that another amendment will be made to the constitution shortly to allow President Gen Pervez Musharraf to continue in uniform beyond Dec 31, 2004 ... Venezuela a role model for Pakistan, says MNA ISLAMABAD, April 22: Venezuela is a case study for Pakistan where President Hugo Chavez succeeded in getting power again with the support of the people after his government was overthrown in a military coup. ... Govt offers to expand probe team: Abdullah Murad's murder KARACHI, April 22: The Sindh government on Thursday asked the opposition to name any government functionary of their trust who could be included in the investigating team carrying out a probe into the murder of PPP MPA Abdullah Murad. ... Opposition in assembly stages sit-in: Arrest of zamindars criticized QUETTA, April 22: The opposition staged a sit-in on the floor of the house here on Thursday against the arrest of around 150 zamindars who wanted to demonstrate in front of the Balochistan assembly to press their demands. ... MQM providing relief to people, says MPA HYDERABAD, April 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement's zonal in charge MPA Arshad Shah has said that the main objective of his party is to resolve the problems of downtrodden people and to provide them some relief. ... Troops to Iraq under consideration, says Kasuri PUTRAJAYA, April 22: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said Pakistan is considering sending troops to Iraq to protect United Nations staff. ... Five IT projects approved ISLAMABAD, April 22: Federal Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday approved five projects costing Rs208 million to strengthen the country's IT industry. ... National curricula to be ready by 2007: Zobaida PESHAWAR, April 22: Federal Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal said on Thursday that the curricula had been reviewed after a lapse of 16 years to improve the education system which needed to be reformed to be brought at par with the modern world. ... Curriculum changes termed attack on Pakistan ideology KARACHI, April 22: Speakers at a conference on Thursday alleged that the US has launched attacked on the country's ideology by bringing changes to curricula through federal education ministry. ... Call to resist IMF, WB policies: NGOs stage demo ISLAMABAD, April 22: Representatives of various non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and the affected people of World Bank and IMF-sponsored projects staged a protest demonstration in front of the World Bank on Thursday. ... Four Pakistani brothers jailed for rape in Australia SYDNEY, April 22: Four Pakistani brothers, who had emigrated to Australia, were jailed for between 10 and 22 years on Thursday for the gang rape of two teenaged girls in Sydney. ... Continue operation in tribal areas: Gen Barno KABUL, April 22: The commander of the coalition forces in Afghanistan, Gen David W. Barno, wants the Pakistani military to continue operation in its tribal areas and capture or kill the foreign fighters holed up there. ... War claims payment ISLAMABAD, April 22: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has been making payments of compensation claims among Gulf War victims in a transparent manner in accordance with the rules of United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), a spokesman said. ... 600 Pakistanis studying in Chinese varsities KARACHI, April 22: Over 600 Pakistani students are studying at various universities in China and the number is expected to increase further in the near future, the leader of a visiting Chinese delegation said here on Thursday. ... Clear policy on Kashmir sought MUZAFFARABAD, April 22: Ruling Muslim Conference secretary general and former AJK finance minister Shah Ghulam Qadir on Wednesday said that bilateralism had failed to deliver in South Asia and called upon the European Parliament ...

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