25 June 2004 Friday 06 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Opposition continues to criticize budget KARACHI, June 24: The provincial government came under severe criticism over law and order and water shortage when the assembly went into afternoon session on Thursday. ... Wana foreigners 'took part in Afghan jihad' ISLAMABAD, June 24: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior was informed on Thursday that terrorists and foreign militants in Wana had taken part in the 'Afghan jihad' on the directives of the then government of Pakistan. ... PLF's intra-court appeal dismissed LAHORE, June 24: A division bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed on Thursday an intra-court appeal of the Pakistan Lawyers Forum, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the armed forces to decree that army officers ... PLF files habeas plea afresh LAHORE, June 24: The Pakistan Lawyers Forum refiled its habeas corpus petition for production of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday after removing the objections raised by the Lahore High Court registrar's office. ... Lawmakers inform Benazir about seniors' role: Lack of quorum during budget session ISLAMABAD, June 24: Some members of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) have complained to party chairperson Benazir Bhutto that they were not allowed by senior party leaders to point out quorum during the budget session ... World Bank hails NWFP budget, PA told PESHAWAR, June 24: NWFP Finance Minister Sirajul Haq has vowed that the provincial government will continue to struggle for the allocation of equal shares in the 6th National Finance Commission Award ... LEA men involved in terrorist acts, NA told ISLAMABAD, June 24: Personnel of law enforcement agencies were involved in most of the terrorist incidents that took place in Karachi since 9/11 incident, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior was informed on Thursday. ... Fata gets over Rs4 billion for ADP this year PESHAWAR, June 24: A Fata Annual Development Programme of over Rs4 billion for 2004-05 has been finalized. This is 22.8 per cent more than the current year's ADP. ... 'Gwadar, Dadu incidents result of anti-people policies of govt' ISLAMABAD, June 24: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has termed recent bomb blasts in Gwadar, destruction of power line tower in Dadu and missile attack on a military camp in Razmak, North Waziristan, a result of "incompetence" ... OPF board okays budget for 2004-05 ISLAMABAD, June 24: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) board of governors on Thursday approved Rs766 millions budget for the fiscal 2004-05. According to a press release issued here, the board meeting held at the OPF head office was presided over by federal secretary for Labour, Manpower, and Overseas Pakistanis, Mohammad Humayun Farshori. ... Cash-strapped NWFP to buy jet for VIP use PESHAWAR, June 24: Chief Minister of the cash-strapped NWFP, Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani, has given the go-ahead for the purchase an aircraft to reduce travel costs which run into millions of rupees. ... Environmental plans to get Rs8m KARACHI, June 24: The Sindh government has allocated Rs1.5 million for public awareness and environmental education, in urban and rural areas of the province, in its budget 2004-05. ... Security at places of worship enhanced ISLAMABAD, June 24: Security arrangements at places of worship in the capital city were reviewed at a meeting here on Thursday. The meeting was attended by the officials of district administration ... LDA's deficit budget approved LAHORE, June 24: The Lahore Development Authority's governing body on Thursday approved a deficit budget for the next fiscal, showing Rs5.1 billion income against an estimated expenditure of Rs6.35 billion. ... Govt refuses to withdraw increase in water bills LAHORE, June 24: The government has refused to slash the increase in water bills. Housing and Urban Development Minister Raza Ali Gilani said if the increase was not allowed water and sanitation agencies in various towns would go bankrupt and resultantly close down. ... Sale of govt land at throwaway price LAHORE, June 24: Colonies Minister Manazar Ranjha apparently backed out of his offer to PPP's Rana Aftab about allotting the latter a piece of land in Faisalabad if he could come up with a concrete offer. The Rana, through an adjournment motion during the last session of the Punjab Assembly, had drawn attention of the government towards allotment of land in Faisalabad. ... Rs25m Palm Research Institute approved ISLAMABAD, June 24: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a scheme worth Rs25 million to establish Date Palm Research Institute at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur. ... Lower Sindh facing up to 84pc water shortage - Minister tells PA KARACHI, June 24: The Sindh Assembly was on Thursday informed that due to low water discharge at Guddu Barrage, the province was facing an overall 34 per cent shortage of water. ... Farmers decide not to pay abiyana: No water for farms and orchards PESHAWAR, June 24: Orchards and farmlands have dried up in various villages of Nowshera and Peshawar districts owing to the chronic shortage of water at the tail-end of the Kabul River Canal system, farmers and elected representatives said. ... Plan to cut power sector losses ISLAMABAD, June 24: The government is finalizing an "action plan" to cut the huge losses of the power sector by attracting foreign investment. "This action plan is likely to be completed within two months after which a Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) ... PPP backs workers' strike plan HYDERABAD, June 24: Former MNA Abdul Sattar Buchani has announced full support of the People's Party Parliamentarians for the National Labour Federation's proposal to observe a country-wide strike on July 29. ... Ehtesab Bureau lawyer quits in protest MUZAFFARABAD, June 24: The AJK Ehtesab Bureau faced an embarrassing situation on Thursday after one of its prosecuting attorneys levelled serious allegations against two other officials and announced that he was disassociating himself from the institution. ...

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