07 May 2004 Friday 16 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 Senate prorogued after ineffectual debate on NSC ISLAMABAD, May 6: Opposition parties in the Senate kept up their onslaught against the newly-created National Security Council (NSC) for the second day on Thursday before the house was prorogued after a three-day session called at their request. ... PPP files petition against Musharraf LAHORE, May 6: The leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Mr Qasim Zia, filed on Thursday a writ petition in the Lahore High Court requesting that the election of President Pervez Musharraf to be declared as unconstitutional and the office of the president vacant. ... PML-Q also invited to welcome Shahbaz LAHORE, May 6: The Punjab PML-N has sent invitations to various political parties for participation in the welcome programme for Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Interestingly, the ruling PML-Q has also been sent the invitation. ... More PML-N workers arrested LAHORE, May 6: The police raided various places in the city and took into custody around a dozen PML-N workers here on Thursday. Among those arrested was a councillor from Shahdara ... Raids to arrest PML-N men continue RAWALPINDI, May 6: Police have enlarged the scope of manhunt for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers and made more arrests on Thursday, sources said. ... Differences sorted out: PPP leader PESHAWAR, May 6: The newly nominated provincial president of the PPP, Rahimdad Khan, expressed optimism on Thursday that the party would soon re-emerge as a popular political force. ... Altaf pledges to work for unity in Sindh KARACHI, May 6: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has pledged to work for the unity of all Sindhis and held religious and extremist parties responsible for the problems being faced by the people of this province. ... ANP to support MQM candidates KARACHI, May 6: The Awami National Party has decided to extend unconditional support to candidates of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the by-elections to be held in Sindh on May 12. ... Asif shifted to Karachi RAWALPINDI, May 6: PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari was shifted to Karachi from Islamabad on Thursday night, official sources told Dawn here on Thursday. ... Afaq's trial to be held in prison KARACHI, May 6: Charges could not be framed against MQM Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed in a murder case of one Shahzad Alam before additional district and sessions judge, East Abdul Malik. ... EU applauds Pakistan's cooperation on N-issue ISLAMABAD, May 6: The European Union has a deep and continuing interest in the nuclear non-proliferation issue and it appreciates Pakistan's "very good" cooperation on this matter. ... IT ministry approves 14 projects ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Ministry of Information Technology has approved 14 projects worth over Rs300 million to automate different public sector organizations and departments including the National Assembly. ... HEC, French body sign MoU on doctoral studies ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French Society for Export of Educational Resources, 'Societe Francaise d' Exportation des Resources Educatives' (SFERE) for provision of doctoral studies in France. ... Zobaida for coordination among ministries: Public services delivery ISLAMABAD, May 6: The federal minister for education, Zubaida Jalal, has called for upbeat coordination among education, health, and social welfare and population ministries for effective delivery of public services at grassroots level. ... SHC issues notice to govt in wheat case KARACHI, May 6: Justice Mushir Alam of the Sindh High Court issued notices to the federal ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) for May 18 ... Apex court criticizes NAB probes ISLAMABAD, May 6: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui has observed that investigations being carried out by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) do not seem to be in accordance with the law as the NAB ... ST liabilities: conditions notified for exemption ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has notified conditions for allowing exemption from payment of past liabilities of sales tax to all those retailers who will register themselves with the sales tax department up to June 30, 2004. ... 'Comprehensive Haj policy under way' ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Mohammad Ejaz-ul-Haq, said on Thursday a permanent and comprehensive Haj policy was under preparation and would be announced soon. ... 'Derailment not caused by subversion' - Minister orders inquiry HYDERABAD, May 6: Federal Railways Minister Ghaus Bux Mahar has ordered an inquiry into the derailment of Rawalpindi-bound Tezrao Express on Wednesday. ... Family therapy helps reduce stress - expert KARACHI, May 6: Pakistanis are strongly recommended to cherish their comparatively intact family bonds and ties particularly in the backdrop of surging stress factors having almost equal impact on physical and psychological health of people. ... UAE sends 80 falcons home for freedom GILGIT, May 6: Eighty falcons confiscated from smugglers in the UAE will on Friday be released in the region of northern Pakistan, officials said. The UAE on Thursday returned the birds which were flown to Gilgit aboard a UAE air force plane. ... 20 Afghan families deported KHAR, May 6: The administration in the Bajaur tribal region deported some 20 Afghan refugee families to their country on Thursday, officials said. ... Govt servants observe pen-down strike in AJK MUZAFFARABAD, May 6: Non-gazetted employees observed a pen-down strike throughout Azad Kashmir on Thursday on a call of the All Pakistan Clerks Association to press the federal and AJK governments to accept their demands. ... AJK to control misuse of power MUZAFFARABAD, May 6: The AJK Ehtesab Bureau has decided to devise an "anti-corruption strategy" to arrest the misuse of power and financial bunglings in Azad Kashmir with the help of government departments ...

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