19 May 2004 Wednesday 28 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 PML-N committee meeting today ISLAMABAD, May 18: A meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Pakistan Muslim League-N will be held here on Wednesday (today) to finalize a plan to lodge protest against the arrest of its leaders and activists ... Jamali makes phone call to PML leader ISLAMABAD May 18: Prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Tuesday afternoon rang up Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, vice-president and media committee chairman of PML-Q, in an apparent effort to appease him and mend fences with the latter. ... Benazir convenes party meetings ISLAMABAD, May 18: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto has called several meetings of the party office- bearers and parliamentarians from all over the country in London beginning from the first week of June. ... Millat Party approved merger with PML: 'A tactical move' LAHORE, May 18: The National Council of the Millat Party formally okayed merger of the party with the PML-Q at a meeting here on Tuesday. ... Pakistan considers C'wealth return LONDON, May 18: The Commonwealth's credibility will be damaged if it does not reinstate Pakistan this week in recognition of the country's democratic reforms, a senior Pakistani diplomat told Reuters. ... 'Opposition leader should be from MMA' RAWALPINDI, May 18: The opposition leader should be nominated from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) as it is the biggest political grouping in the parliament. ... JUI-F opposes convention on blasphemy, Hudood laws SUKKUR, May 18: The Naib Amir of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Maulana Murad Halejvi, has rejected holding of a national convention by President Gen Musharraf about the Hudood Ordinance and blasphemy law. ... Govt determined to curb plagiarism: NA speaker ISLAMABAD, May 18: The speaker of the National Assembly, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, has assured the corporate sector of government's full support to curb down violations of intellectual property rights in the country. ... Pemra assures cable operators of support KARACHI, May 18: The chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Mian Muhammed Javed, said that cable operators can approach the private members of the authority for redressing of their grievances. ... JUI-F not to back JI candidate: District nazim election SWABI, May 18: Owing to serious differences with Jamaat-i-Islami, the Jamait Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) has declared its neutrality in the district nazim election, to be held on May 22. ... Nine protesters held outside Parliament House: Narowal incident ISLAMABAD, May 18: Police on Tuesday arrested nine people, including two women, who were sitting in a protest camp outside the Parliament House, demanding arrest of the culprits involved in Narowal gang rape case. ... Senate panel criticizes deletions from textbooks: Objective analysis of the issue urged ISLAMABAD, May 18: The Senate Standing Committee on education on Tuesday observed that the issue of deletion of material related to the ideology of Pakistan and Islam from the textbooks published by the Punjab Textbook Board ... Debt bondage persists in mining sector, says report ISLAMABAD, May 18: Bonded labour exists in the mining sector of Pakistan as an instituted system of recruitment in conformity with its 'classic' mode of debt bondage, a research study conducted by a renowned scholar says. ... North-South gap on IT 'widens' FAISALABAD, May 18: French Ambassador Mr Pierre Charasse has emphasized the impact of information technology (IT) on sustainable development and observed that the gap between the countries of the North and of the South is greater than ever in this field. ... LHC wants power cancel licences of lawyers LAHORE, May 18: The Lahore High Court has proposed an amendment to its rules with a view to seeking powers to cancel licences of lawyers practising at the high court, it is learnt. ... Judge refers by-election inquiry to CEC KARACHI, May 18: Justice Mohammad Sadiq Leghari of the Sindh High Court, who is holding an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the May 12 by-elections in the city, recommended on Tuesday that the investigation might well be conducted by the Election Commission ... Tax exemption: appeals of power firms dismissed ISLAMABAD, May 18: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed identical appeals of a number of small power producers seeking income tax exemption for the year 1994-96. ... SHC adjourns proceedings on PHPL plea KARACHI, May 18: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday adjourned proceedings in the Pakistan Herald Publications Limited petition against the chairman of the implementation tribunal for newspaper employees ... Permanent commission needed to preserve heritage, seminar told QUETTA, May 18: Permanent National Commission should be established for preservation of national heritage with comprehensive provisions for effective management and sustainable development at all levels. ... WB wants difference in salaries narrowed: Public-private sectors ISLAMABAD, May 18: The World Bank has asked the government to narrow the gap between wages in the public and private sectors by introducing appropriate measures in the next budget. ...

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