01 July 2004 Thursday 12 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Jamali offers to vacate NA seat for Shaukat ISLAMABAD, June 30: Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has offered Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to contest the election for the National Assembly from his constituency in Balochistan, sources told Dawn. ... I am Sunni Muslim, says Shaukat ISLAMABAD, June 30: Federal Finance Minister and prime minister in-waiting Shaukat Aziz has said he is a Sunni Muslim and believes that Muhammad (PBUH) is the last of the prophets. ... Who enabled Musharraf to call the shots? LAHORE, June 30: Opposition legislators in the Punjab Assembly strongly opposed a resolution Law Minister Raja Basharat had sought to move on the last of the 15-day budget session on Wednesday ... Rumpus on motion to felicitate Shujaat LAHORE, June 30: Pandemonium broke out in the Punjab Assembly here on Wednesday when treasury members moved a motion congratulating Chaudhry Shujaat Husain on assuming the office of prime minister. ... PPP strategy to thwart govt's 'rigging plan' LAHORE, June 30: The Punjab PPP executive, which met here under the chairmanship of Mr Qasim Zia here on Wednesday, discussed a strategy to thwart government's alleged plans to rig the by-elections on four provincial assembly seats on July 3. ... Lawyers prepare for agitation LAHORE, June 30: Lawyers prepare themselves for a countrywide agitation against the appointment of Mr Shaukat Aziz as future prime minister. ... Not an indictment, says PPP ISLAMABAD, June 30: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) spokesman Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar has denied that PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has been indicted by the Swiss inquiry magistrate on charges of corruption in award of the pre-shipment inspection contract to the Swiss firm SGS in 1994. ... Magistrate examines SGS case ISLAMABAD, June 30: The Swiss Examining Magistrate on Wednesday examined the SGS and Cotecna money laundering case and now it would be referred to the court of Geneva criminal proceedings, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) spokesman said on Wednesday. ... Khuhro demands killers' arrest KARACHI, June 30: The Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, on Wednesday criticized the government for the worsening law and order situation in the province, particularly Karachi, and stressed that "struggle alone is the way out of the oppressive system." ... Maimoona leaves for Geneva ISLAMABAD, June 30: The PML-N MNA, Maimoona Hashmi has left for Geneva on the invitation of International Parliamentarian Union (IPU). According to a handout, issued by the PML-N camp office ... Supplementary budget of Rs36bn passed LAHORE, June 30: The Punjab Assembly passed an unprecedentedly high supplementary budget of over Rs36 billion at a session here on Wednesday. Only two cut motions, moved by the opposition against grants for irrigation ... PA approves Rs2.29bn supplementary budget PESHAWAR, June 30: The NWFP assembly on Wednesday approved 35 demands for grant of over Rs3.294 billion to meet additional expenditure projected in revised estimates by different departments in the previous budget (2003-4). ... 'Kashmiris must be involved in peace talks' MUZAFFARABAD, June 30 AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat said on Tuesday that no just and durable solution to the Kashmir problem could be found without the consent of the Kashmiri people. ... Wage award issue to be placed before cabinet ISLAMABAD, June 30: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to place the issue of implementation of the Seventh Wage Board award for newspaper employees before the cabinet. ... Kasuri for Jakarta to sign amity treaty ISLAMABAD, June 30: Hours after his induction into the cabinet again as foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri boarded a plane for Jakarta on Wednesday evening ... Abizaid meets Musharraf, Yusaf ISLAMABAD, June 30: The commander-in-chief, US Centcom, Gen John P. Abizaid called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Wednesday. Matters of mutual interest, geo-strategic environment and ways to further enhance existing ties between the armed forces of the two countries ... Better Indo-Pakistan ties to benefit Saarc KARACHI, June 30: Visiting Nepalese journalists on Wednesday maintained that a better relationship between Pakistan and India would also help improve Islamabad's relations with Kathmandu and other Saarc capitals in economic and other fields. ... Saarc states to cut telecom tariff ISLAMABAD, June 30: The South Asian countries will reduce telecom tariff within the region to the "lowest extent feasible" within the framework of cost orientation based on international benchmarks. ... Ata for proper utilization of funds ISLAMABAD, June 30: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman has asked the vice-chancellors and heads of degree-awarding institutions in the public sector to adequately use the funds provided to them by the commission. ... Scholar advocates overhauling of education system ISLAMABAD, June 30: In youth we have the best hope to take Pakistan to new heights of glory provided they are taught to gain mastery of the natural causes of things. ... Release of Pakistani hostage urged ISLAMABAD, June 30: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has expressed concern over reports that Amjad Hafeez, a Pakistani taken hostage in Iraq, may be beheaded on non- fulfilment of certain conditions conveyed by his captors to the Iraqi government. ... Doctors express concern over insecurity PESHAWAR, June 30: Doctors affiliated with various associations here on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing insecurity they were faced with in the country, especially in Sindh. ... 2 bomb blasts rock Quetta QUETTA, June 30: Two bomb blasts in quick succession jolted the city on Wednesday. Sources said the first explosion took place at about 11am on Jan Mohammed Road near Pir Choka. ... Rockets fired into Mohmand Agency from Afghanistan PESHAWAR, June 30: Afghan troops fired missiles and mortars into the Mohmand tribal agency on Tuesday night, targeting civilian population and a Pakistan Army camp in the region, sources told Dawn on Wednesday. ...

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