09 June 2004 Wednesday 20 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 Rahim vows to maintain principled stand KARACHI, June 8: Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, nominated for the post of the chief minister of Sindh by the Pakistan Muslim League and its allies, said on Thursday that his government would remain committed to the principled stand ... Change at centre after 2007, says Shujaat ISLAMABAD, June 8: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday rejected speculations about an in-house change at the centre and told newspersons that any replacement or change of the prime minister "will come under consideration after the year 2007". ... PPP, PML-N fail to put up joint candidates LAHORE, June 8: The PPP and the PML-N have failed to put up joint candidates for by election to four provincial seats. The leaders of the two parties met here on Tuesday at the residence of Zulfikar Khosa, but they could not take any decision. ... Manoeuvring at its peak as new CM nominated: Sindh PA session today KARACHI, June 8: Hectic activity in political quarters was witnessed on Tuesday with parliamentary parties in the Sindh Assembly spending a very busy day chalking out their strategies for the special session of the house on Wednesday at 11am. ... JI asked to quit govt in Balochistan KARACHI, June 8: The National Assembly members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement have urged Jamaat-i-Islami and other components of MMA to resign from the coalition government in Balochistan ... Coalition welcomes Arbab as new CM, says Ibad KARACHI, June 8: The outgoing Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Mohammed Mahar, who resigned from his office on Monday, hosted a luncheon for his cabinet members and aides here on Tuesday. ... Ministers, CM's aides cease to hold offices KARACHI, June 8: Consequent upon the acceptance of resignation submitted by Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar from the office of the chief minister, the Sindh cabinet ceases to exist and, therefore, all the members of the cabinet, advisers and special assistants to the chief minister have ceased to hold their portfolios ... Appointments in PIA, ISPR: PPP questions disallowed ISLAMABAD, June 8: Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro on Tuesday disallowed questions submitted by a member of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) regarding "illegal" appointments in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) ... PM wants power rates rationalized ISLAMABAD, June 8: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Tuesday presided over a high level meeting for rationalization of electricity tariffs and directed necessary measures to provide relief to consumers. ... Centre agrees to give Rs8bn: CM - Net hydel-profit share PESHAWAR, June 8: Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the federal government has agreed to enhance the NWFP's share of net profit of the hydel power from Rs6 billion to Rs8 billion. ... MMA sees changes at centre after Sindh HYDERABAD, June 8: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal senator Prof Abdul Ghafoor Ahmad has observed that after replacement of the Sindh chief minister, changes at the centre cannot be ruled out. ... NWFP likely to announce Rs17bn ADP in budget PESHAWAR, June 8: The NWFP government is expected to announce an Annual Development Programme (ADP) of over Rs17 billion in the next budget indicating an increase of 20 per cent of the outgoing fiscal year. ... CM's removal no big change, say parties KARACHI, June 8: The Pakistan People's Party on Tuesday apprehended that the recent change in Sindh government will bring no improvement in the overall law and order situation in the province ... Musharraf attends presentation at NDC ISLAMABAD, June 8: President Gen Pervez Musharraf attended a presentation of the 'course paper' delivered by the participants of the national defence course held at the National Defence College (NDC) here on Tuesday morning. ... NGOs offices remain closed in Balochistan QUETTA, June 8: Relief activities were not resumed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other foreign non-government organizations in Balochistan on Tuesday. ... DPs' registration in Bajaur begins KHAAR, June 8: The Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees has registered at least 20,000 Afghans residing in the Bajaur tribal agency, officials told Dawn here on Tuesday. ... Border treaty with Afghanistan remains valid ISLAMABAD, June 8: The Anglo-Afghan agreement of 1893 signed between the Kabul ruler, Amir Abdur Rahman, and Sir Mortimar Durand, representing the British Indian government to establish a 'permanent border' between the two countries ... 'Turncoat' says he has joined his flock LAHORE, June 8: The change of loyalty is viewed differently by different people. For some it's something to be proud of while for others it's a shameful act, to say the least. ... 1,190 Sikhs arrive for Jore Mela LAHORE, June 8: As many as 1,190 Indian Sikh pilgrims, including women and children, arrived here by a special train via Wagah border on Tuesday. The Sikhs are scheduled to attend a three-day Jore Mela at Dera Sahib ... Increased US role proposed for nuke crisis management ISLAMABAD, June 8: A former army official associated with Pakistan's nuclear command structure has recommended increased US role for nuclear crisis management between Pakistan and India, suggesting the US be also given access to nuclear sites. ... Mining projects delayed PESHAWAR, June 8: Non-provision of the funds required for two mining projects of soapstone and coal in Kurram and Orakzai tribal regions has delayed exploration work despite passage of one year, official sources said. ... 'Over 550m live below poverty line in S. Asia' ISLAMABAD, June 8: More than 550 million people in South Asia live below poverty line due to bad governance and lack of planning, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Tuesday ... Rs452 million data centre project approved: Communication within depts ISLAMABAD, June 8: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday approved a project initiated by the ministry of information technology for setting up a first data centre to house the federal government's database ... Frontier plans to establish IT excellence centre: Software technology park abolished PESHAWAR, June 8: The NWFP government has abolished the Peshawar Software Technology Park and Information Technology cell projects. Officials say that the software business is not viable under current circumstances in the province. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004