20 June 2004 Sunday 01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 No danger to political system: minister ISLAMABAD June 19: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on Saturday denied there was any danger to democratic system or any chance of snap elections in the country. Talking to a group of newsmen in his chamber in the parliament house ... Strict cordon fails to foil opposition's protest: MPAs ask govt to quit KARACHI, June 19: Opposition members in the Sindh Assembly on Saturday staged an hour-long sit-in outside the assembly building and strongly criticized the government for poor security ... Commotion prevents PA deliberations: Opposition resents 'security check' KARACHI, June 19: The Sindh Assembly could not initiate general discussion on the provincial budget 2004-05 on Saturday as the session had to be adjourned for the day amid commotion ... Govt blamed for lawlessness in Sindh HYDERABAD, June 19: The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party's central committee at a meeting held here on Friday expressed concern over lawlessness in the province and held the rulers responsible for the prevailing situation. ... Suhrawardy's killing condemned ISLAMABAD, June 19: The Punjab Bar Council has severely condemned the murder of information secretary of Pakistan People's Party in Sindh, Munawwar Suhrawardy, on Friday and termed it a plot to keep the PPP and its chairperson Benazir Bhutto away from politics. ... US accused of spreading terrorism RAWALPINDI, June 19: Central general-secretary of Jamaat-i- Islami Syed Munawar Hassan has said the United States is sustaining heavy losses in all countries where it has imposed its so-called war on terror. ... Qasim Zia alleges pre-poll rigging LAHORE, June 19: Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia has accused the government of harassing party activists in connection with PP-156 bypoll, describing it as a pre-poll rigging bid. ... Presiding officers told to ensure fair polls ISLAMABAD, June 19: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan on Friday asked the presiding officers, deputed to supervise the June 20 by-elections for the National Assembly seat in Jhang ... Budget to promote VIP culture: ANP PESHAWAR, June 19: Awami National Party's central vice-president Haji Mohammad Adeel has said that NWFP's new budget would promote VIP culture in the poverty-ridden province. ... ANP seeks rights for smaller provinces QUETTA, June 19: ANP leader Naseem Wali Khan has said that a stable, liberal and democratic government that recognizes the rights of smaller nationalities on its resources in their respective provinces can rid the country of present impasse. ... Nationalist parties criticized QUETTA, June 19: Pakistan Workers Party president Nasrullah Khan Kakar has strongly criticized the nationalist parties for opposing Gwadar port project and establishment of three new cantonments in Balochistan. ... 'Interim syllabus for NA being made' GILGIT, June 19: A final decision regarding changing the Islamiyat syllabus will be made in due course of time by the federal ministry of education because of its being a federal subject ... Over Rs4bn allocated for N. Areas uplift ISLAMABAD, June 19: The government has allocated Rs4.073 billion for ongoing and new development schemes in the Northern Areas under the Public Sector Development Programme 2004-05. ... NWFP govt vows to stick to its demands: Net hydel profit issue PESHAWAR, June 19: The NWFP government will keep pressing for its outstanding dues against Wapda and will also keep on calling for an 11 per cent annual increase in the net hydel profit ... ZTBL focuses on financing small farmers ISLAMABAD, June 19: The Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) after its restructuring has been focusing on financing small farmers through one-window operation, revolving finance scheme and micro credit for agricultural loans. ... Slight raise in women ministry's allocation ISLAMABAD, June 19: The Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education has received a nominal increase in its budgetary allocations from Rs1.027 billion in 2003-04 to Rs1.258 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2004-05, the budget document said. ... Singapore PM arrives tomorrow ISLAMABAD, June 19: Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong will be arriving in Pakistan on a three-day visit from June 21-23. He is visiting the country on the invitation of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. ... Kasuri leaves for China ISLAMABAD, June 19: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri who left for China on Friday evening to participate in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Qingdao, will meet his Indian counterpart K. Natwar Singh there for the first time. ... BSF, Rangers discuss check on drug trade LAHORE, June 19: An eight-member delegation led by Indian Border Security Force Deputy Inspector-General A.K.Surollia held a meeting with Pakistan Rangers officials here on Saturday. ... US backs Pakistan's anti-terror efforts WASHINGTON, June 19: The US Central Command congratulated Pakistan on Saturday for carrying out a successful operation against Al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the tribal area. ... Speeding major cause of traffic accidents: report ISLAMABAD, June 19: Road traffic injury has become a leading cause of death in Pakistan with 15 deaths per 1,000 persons per year. ... Proposals to improve TB treatment short courses underway ISLAMABAD, June 19: Proposals are being made to improve the quality of Directly-Observed Treatment Strategy (DOTS) short courses for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). ...

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