06 May 2004 Thursday 15 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 NSC termed negation of spirit of Constitution ISLAMABAD, May 5: Opposition senators on Wednesday lashed out at the ruling coalition members for supporting the formation of the National Security Council (NSC) and accused them of becoming a tool in the hands of President Pervez Musharraf. ... Shahbaz confused, says Pervaiz LAHORE, May 5: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said Shahbaz Sharif himself is double-minded and confused about his return to Pakistan. Talking to reporters after the inaugural session of the Punjab Health Development Forum meeting ... Threats cannot stop Shahbaz's return: PML KARACHI, May 5: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) said here on Wednesday that the government was afraid of the return of Shahbaz Sharif, and it was why it had been issuing threatening statements. ... PPP puts off protest drive LAHORE, May 5: The executive committee of the Punjab PPP on Wednesday decided to postpone staging of protest camps in the city on May 8 as a "goodwill gesture" on the return of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif. ... PML-N leaders limit their activities FAISALABAD, May 5: The local leaders of the PML-N have either gone underground or confined their activities to reduce risk of their arrest before the expected return of party president Shahbaz Sharif. ... Mahar urges all Leagers to unite KARACHI, May 5: Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, who returned to the city from Islamabad on Wednesday with additional responsibility as President of the unified PML ... JI for joint strategy to meet challenges RAWALPINDI, May 5: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Punjab deputy chief Mian Mohammed Aslam, MNA, has said all political and religious parties should formulate a joint strategy to meet what he said grave challenges confronting the country. ... PPP demands probe into wheat scandal ISLAMABAD, May 5: People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) leaders have demanded parliamentary probe into the "wheat scandal" and held the Jamali government responsible for the shortage of the commodity in the country. ... Protest lodged with US, says Kasuri: Violation of border ISLAMABAD, May 5: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said on Wednesday that Pakistan had strongly protested to the United States over border violation by US troops in North Waziristan and demanded a probe into Monday's incident. ... Pakistan elected to UNCHR UNITED NATIONS, May 5: Pakistan was re-elected on Tuesday to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) for a three-year term beginning 2005 to 2007 against one of the Asian seats. ... Pakistan gets seat on UN rights body ISLAMABAD, May 5: Pakistan has been re-elected to the UN Commission on Human Rights against one of the Asian seats for the term 2005-2007. Elections were held on May 4 during the organisational session of the 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. ... Environmental sciences curriculum finalized ISLAMABAD, May 5: The National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has finalized the curriculum of environmental sciences being taught at public- sector universities of the country. ... Defence, PIA appointments to be taken up: Soomro ISLAMABAD, May 5: Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro on Wednesday assured the upper house that a discussion on allegations of controversial appointments in the ministry of defence and PIA would be taken up in due course of time. ... UAE firm deposits $72.7m for licence ISLAMABAD, May 5: A UAE based firm on Wednesday deposited 25 per cent ($72.75 million) of the $291 million bid in the account of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for the grant of cellular mobile phone licence. ... Rs64bn work on Mangla from July MIRPUR, May 5: Construction work for raising of Mangla Dam will begin in July and this project will cost estimated Rs64 billion to complete by the end of year 2007. ... Rs12.8bn drugs seized in five years, Senate told ISLAMABAD, May 5: Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said the law enforcement agencies have seized over Rs12.8 billion worth of drugs during the last five years. ... Media persons should adhere to objectivity, say experts RAWALPINDI, May 5: Media persons should adhere to journalistic ideals, objectives and impartial reporting even in the face of strong resistance from states, commercial organizations, groups and individuals. ... Qayyum for continuous dialogue on Kashmir RAWALPINDI, May 5: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference president, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, has stressed on continuous negotiations between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. ... Experts criticize UN's role PESHAWAR, May 5: A former UN official has hinted at the return of legitimate "moderate Taliban" elements in Afghanistan in future which would help in rebuilding the war-ravaged country. ... UN urged to continue aid for refugee PESHAWAR, May 5: Participants of a panel presentation on Wednesday cautioned that the proposed stoppage of United Nations assistance for Afghan refugees could lead to humanitarian crises in the host countries. ... Turkish envoy meets Jamali ISLAMABAD, May 5: Turkish ambassador in Pakistan Kemal Gur called on Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali at the Prime Minister's House on Wednesday. The ambassador presented the prime minister a cheque for the flood victims. ... Security for Chinese in N. Areas tightened GILGIT, May 5: The authorities in the Northern Areas have enhanced security around the Chinese engineers in the region after Monday's car bomb attack in Gwadar that left three Chinese engineers dead, official sources said on Wednesday. ...

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