24 April 2004 Saturday 03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 PML-N leadership to meet on 28th: Shahbaz to land in Lahore LAHORE, April 23: "He will." "He won't." Rival claims are being made by the PML-N and the ruling PML-Q, about the return home of the former Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif. ... 'Amendment ensured strong parliament' ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has claimed that the amendment introduced by the party to the National Security Council (NSC) bill would make parliament more strong and a sovereign institution. ... Hashmi criticizes govt ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) president and acting president of Pakistan Muslim League-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi has condemned the government for arresting and torturing over 3,000 party activists ... Court seeks production of Asif in Nizam murder case KARACHI, April 23: The district and sessions judge, Central, Pir Ali Shah, ordered on Friday the jail authorities to produce Asif Ali Zardari on May 7 in Justice Nizam case. ... PPP to give 'rigging' report to ECP BAHAWALPUR, April 23: PPP Parliamentarian divisional coordinator and MNA Mian Mumtaz Ahmad Matyana has reiterated massive rigging allegations during polling for NA-190 (Bahawalpur III) by-election on April 12. ... Confrontation not in country's interest: PPP ISLAMABAD, April 23: People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) secretary general and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that confrontation between his party and the army is not in the country's interest ... Charge-sheet in murder case against Afaq submitted KARACHI, April 23: The police submitted final charge-sheet in a murder-cum-kidnapping case against Afaq Ahmed, chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, and others in the court of a judicial magistrate. ... Sajid Naqvi was framed to divide MMA: MNA HYDERABAD, April 23: A central leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, MNA Dr Allama Abdul Khair Mohammad Zubair, has said MMA central vice president Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi has nothing to do with the murder of Maulana Azam Tariq. ... JI condemns FM's statement on troops for Iraq LAHORE, April 23: A resolution adopted at Mansoora mosque after Juma prayers led by Qazi Husain Ahmad condemned Foreign Minister Kasuri's statement that Pakistan was considering sending troops to Iraq to protect the UN forces there. ... PPP sets up protest camps today ISLAMABAD, April 23: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) will set up camps in Rawalpindi on Saturday to protest against the price-hike, unemployment and poor law and order situation in the country. ... MQM struggling against feudalism: minister THATTA, April 23: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement is working for the well being of some 98 per cent the poor and middle class population by striving to free the country from feudal domination. ... PPP leadership in Thatta changed THATTA, April 23: Major changes were announced in the People's Party Parliamentarians' district organisation by the party's provincial president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro here on Thursday. ... Govt defends handling of Murad killing case: PA debate concludes KARACHI, April 23: The Sindh Assembly on Friday concluded discussion on the adjournment motion moved by opposition leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on the killing of MPA Abdullah Murad. ... 4,000 to be trained in open source software: Rs37m IT pilot project launched ISLAMABAD, April 23: The information technology ministry has launched a pilot project worth Rs37 million to train 4,000 government servants in open source software. ... Any change in US not to affect ties: Shaukat WASHINGTON, April 23: A political change in the United States will not affect Pakistan's relationship with America as it is based on mutual national interests and not personal friendship, says Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. ... ADB grant for research on poverty reduction ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant of $400,000 to conduct research on the determinants and drivers of poverty reduction and the bank's contribution in rural areas of Pakistan. ... Kashmir key to peace in region, says Sherpao ISLAMABAD, April 23: Kashmir is of fundamental importance to the peace process and the long-lasting peace is not possible in the region unless the issue is settled. ... Commodore Nayyar promoted ISLAMABAD, April 23: Commodore Nayyar Iqbal, Commander Logistics of Pakistan Navy, has been promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. ... ANP, JWP agree to form alliance: Asfandyar QUETTA, April 23: Awami National Party president Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that his party and the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leadership have agreed to form an alliance on a minimum common programme. ... Call to make composite dialogue sustainable ISLAMABAD, April 23: Former ambassadors and intellectuals from India and Pakistan here on Friday called for peaceful coexistence and cooperation between neighbouring countries. ... Role of skilled birth attendants emphasized ISLAMABAD, April 23: Need for a strong network among the government and private sector organizations working for the promotion of mothers health was highlighted during a three-day workshop on "Skilled Birth Attendants in South and West Asia" ... Wapda's water projections rejected ISLAMABAD, April 23: Amid Sindh's estimates of negative water availability for new dams, chairman of the parliamentary committee on water resources, Senator Nisar Memon, has rejected Wapda projections ... Exhibition on higher education in China begins KARACHI, April 23: A two-day exhibition on higher education in China began here on Friday, under the aegis of China Scholarship Council (CSC). ... PMA issues guidelines on safe blood transfusion KARACHI, April 23: So unsafe is the locally available blood that many well-meaning doctors have discontinued recommending transfusion to patients whose lives are not threatened in the short term. ... Anti-drug programme extended for 5 years ISLAMABAD, April 23: The government has extended Anti-Drug Programme (ADP) for another five years and decided to restructure the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to ensure a drug free society. ... Couple convicted of murder TORONTO, April 23: The father and stepmother of a five-year- old girl, Farah Khan, were convicted on Thursday of murdering the child four years ago and disposing of parts of her dismembered body in two lakeside parks here. ...

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