14 May 2004 Friday 23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 Plea against Musharraf's election 'missing' LAHORE, May 13: Punjab Assembly Leader of the Opposition Qasim Zia's petition against the election of President Gen Pervez Musharraf is missing from the Lahore High Court registrar office. ... Shahbaz's deportation termed illegal KARACHI, May 13: Sindh Bar Council members have condemned the deportation of PML (N) President Shahbaz Sharif as a violation of a Supreme Court judgment in this regard. ... Deportation: Bar seeks legal action LAHORE, May 13: The Lahore High Court Bar Association claimed on Thursday that sending Mian Shahbaz Sharif outside Pakistan amounted to kidnap and illegal detention for which a suit for Rs2 billion in damages should be instituted ... PPP rejects Karachi by-election results ISLAMABAD, May 13: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNAs and senators on Thursday rejected the results of the by- elections in Karachi and accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of 'terrorizing' voters ... Qazi demands ban on Muttahida: MMA gives strike call for today KARACHI, May 13: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Thursday gave the call for a complete strike in Karachi to be observed on Friday against the killing of its 11 workers, and accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement of carrying out the killings. ... MQM criticizes Jamaat KARACHI, May 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday has criticized Jamaat-i-Islami for giving a strike call for Friday. It accused the party of resorting to violence and converting Karachi into another Baghdad, Kabul or Tora Bora. ... Aliens still hiding in Waziristan, says govt: Nek Mohammad's claim denied KOHAT, May 13: Following the military operation in Kalusha the foreign elements might have changed their hideouts but the government had confirmed reports that hundreds of them were still there in the South Waziristan Agency ... Politicians criticized MARDAN, May 13: A former provincial president of Pakistan People's Party, Khwaja Mohammed Khan Hoti, has said that most political leaders demand a democratic attitude from the military dictators, but, personally they were worse than military dictators. ... Arrest warrants for PM's adviser issued RAWALPINDI, May 13: A court here on Thursday issued arrest warrants of the adviser to the prime minister on women development, Nelofar Bakhtiar and nine PML-N activists in a case related to an attack on the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court. ... Dissidents' unification won't hurt PPP: Badr LAHORE, May 13: People's Party secretary-general Jehangir Badr says the reported unification of Patriots and Sherpao groups on May 17 will fail to cause any damage to the PPP that is being led by Benazir Bhutto. ... 124 activists of PPP, PML-N released LAHORE, May 13: As many as 124 political leaders and activists, belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People's Party, were released on bail by two anti-terrorism courts ... PML-F men emerge winner in unofficial results SANGHAR, May 13: Liaquat Mari was elected on NA-236 Sanghar- III by securing 64,947 votes, unofficial results said. Liaquat Ali Mari belongs to Pakistan Muslim League-F. ... Pakistan welcomes ARF decision ISLAMABAD, May 13: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the decision of the ARF senior officials meeting to recommend Pakistan's admission to the regional security forum. ... Tajikistan president in Lahore LAHORE, May 13: Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmonov was given a warm welcome on his arrival in the Punjab capital on Thursday on a two-day visit. ... Malaysia keen to boost ties with Pakistan KUALA LUMPUR, May 13: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who is here to attend the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, on Thursday spent a busy day. ... Shia scholars stage sit-in at high court KARACHI, May 13: Shia scholars on Thursday staged a sit-in at the Sindh High Court against the killing of innocent people. The sit-in was staged under the auspices of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan (Sindh chapter). ... Allocation for S&T increased to Rs2.6bn: Development programme ISLAMABAD, May 13: The budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Science and Technology has increased from Rs130 million to Rs2.6 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the last few years, sources told Dawn. ... PIA increases fuel surcharge ISLAMABAD, May 13: The Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) has enhanced the additional fuel surcharge for international travelling, ranging from Rs200 to Rs700. However, sources said the fares had not been increased. ... WB team pledges release of $90m PESHAWAR, May 13: A visiting World Bank team has assured release of $90 million to the NWFP government as fresh tranche for executing the second phase of Structural Adjustment Credit (SAC-II) plan in the province following successful negotiations with MMA's senior minister Sirajul Haq. ... Peace process to continue: Menon - Pakistan renews call for peace ISLAMABAD, May 13: Following the utterly unexpected defeat of the ruling BJP in the elections on Thursday Pakistan moved swiftly to renew its call for peace with India, saying it looks forward to pursuing this objective with the new government in New Delhi. ... Ahmad Faraz enthrals audience at mushaira KARACHI, May 13: Celebrated poet Ahmad Faraz captivated the audience through his selected poetry at a "Zaili Bainul Aqwami Mushaira," held late Wednesday. ... Cafe on The Mall 'illegal' LAHORE, May 13: The Lahore High Court has declared unlawful and a public nuisance the project of the Parks and Horticulture Authority to establish a sit-out cafe on The Mall service lane. ... Poll results won't derail Pakistan, India talks: EU representative says... KARACHI, May 13: Ambassador and head of the European Commission delegation in Pakistan, Mr Ilkka Uusitalo, here on Thursday expressed the hope that poll results in India would not derail positive dialogue process between Islamabad and New Delhi. ... Clerks observe strike RAWALPINDI, May 13: The All-Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) on Thursday observed a countrywide pen-down strike to press the government for acceptance of its charter of demands. ... Centres for teachers' training to be set up ISLAMABAD, May 13: The education ministry will set up teacher training centres throughout the country where educators trained in the US will be recruited to educate teachers at the local level. ... AJK owes Rs855m power dues MUZAFFARABAD, May 13: Different government and semi-government departments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir owe more than Rs855 million to the AJK electricity department as outstanding power dues, Dawn has learnt. ...

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