08 July 2004 Thursday 19 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Shujaat favours LB polls on party basis KARACHI, July 7: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said here on Wednesday that the Pakistan Muslim League favoured the holding of local government elections on party basis and it would fully participate in the polls, along with our allied parties. ... Changing the goal posts ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has finalized its preparations to file objections with the Election Commission against Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz for violating the basic legal requirements to contest by-election. ... PPP will win if by-poll not rigged: Khuhro - Tharparkar NA seat MIRPURKHAS, July 7: Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly and president of theSindh PPP, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, has said that the PPP will take part in the important contest in the NA-229 Tharparkar 1 constituency. ... It's not binding on Aziz to quit: Zafar LAHORE, July 7: Senator S.M. Zafar, who is also a former law minister, says there is no obligation under the Constitution, the Election Order 2002 and the People's Representation Act for a minister to resign before taking part in an election. ... PML-N leader contests Aziz's claim ISLAMABAD, July 7: The PML-N vice-president, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, has questioned the claim of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz that he loves Pakistan and termed it deceptive slogan to impress the voters. ... Pir Pagara declines to meet PM KARACHI, July 7: A scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and veteran Pakistan Muslim League leader Pir Pagara could not take place on Wednesday because the latter excused himself by saying he was 'indisposed'. ... Opposition rejects Hasba bill PESHAWAR, July 7: Opposition parties' parliamentary leaders have rejected the proposed Hasba bill and termed it a political ploy of the Muttahidda Majlis-i-Amal to hoodwink the masses and to divert people's attention from serious problems. ... PPP calls for withdrawal of 'false' cases against Asif ISLAMABAD, July 7: People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has demanded of the government to withdraw all "false and fabricated" cases against jailed leader Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto ... Plea in assets case rejected RAWALPINDI, July 7: The accountability court No. 4 rejected a plea of the PPP leader, Asif Ali Zardari, in an asset reference here on Wednesday. ... Bench sends Steel Mills case back to LHC CJ RAWALPINDI, July 7: A new division bench recently appointed by the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry for rehearing the Steel Mills reference case against former senator Asif Ali Zardari ... Court records defence statment RAWALPINDI, July 7: An accountability court here on Wednesday recorded arguments in a reference against the former National Assembly speaker and PPP leader, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. ... Jam offers talks to nationalist parties QUETTA, July 7: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf has offered to hold talks with nationalist parties on their apprehensions and reservations regarding mega projects, including the Gwadar Port. ... Musharraf invites Finnish investors HELSINKI, July 7: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday sought more Finnish investment in Pakistan, urging the business community to take advantage of the several incentives being offered by the government to facilitate investment. ... Resignation of Abbasi rejected ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Presidency has rejected the resignation tendered by Chairman of Technical Committee on Water Resources, A N G Abbasi, and relevant institutions have been asked to provide him every possible support to complete his report, Dawn has learnt. ... Militants fire missiles on Waziristan Scouts' camp WANA, July 7: After a week of relative peace, security forces and militants exchanged fire in the South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, witnesses said. The firing began early in the morning and continued throughout the day. ... Government promises early payment of power profit to NWFP ISLAMABAD, July 7: The government told the Senate on Wednesday that it was seeking an early settlement of the NWFP complaint about non-payment of its full share of net profit from electricity generated there. ... HEC offers post-doctoral fellowships ISLAMABAD, July 7: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has offered post-doctoral fellowships to all the faculty members of public-sector educational institutions to study in developed countries of the world. ... Congress saves Pakistani family from deportation WASHINGTON, July 7: The US Congress has approved legislation that would grant permanent residency to the widow and daughters of a Pakistani national slain in a post-Sept 11 hate crime. ... Haraj refuses to reveal names in Senate: NAB cases against ministers ISLAMABAD, July 7: The opposition in the Senate on Wednesday dealt a blow to the government's claims of transparency when the minister of state for law and parliamentary affairs ... Ministries told to enhance internal management ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has conveyed its displeasure over non- surrender of Rs426 million in respect of six different grants of the agriculture ministry for the year 2000-01. ... AJK told to assess water requirements MUZAFFARABAD, July 7: A federal government committee has asked the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government to conduct a detailed assessment of its irrigation water requirements to prepare a solid case for presentation to authorities, Dawn learnt here on Wednesday. ... Ministry yet to fill vacant NCSW seats ISLAMABAD, July 7: The ministry of women development and social welfare is yet to finalize the list of members of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) as almost all its members have completed their three-year terms, Dawn has learnt. ... People's Health Movement launched ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Pakistan chapter of People's Health Movement (PHM) was launched here on Wednesday to influence the policy-makers to extend health-care facilities in a cost- affective manner, especially to women. ... Government short of anti-HIV drugs KARACHI, July 7: Last year the country managed to obtain funding from the United Nations for the procurement of anti-retroviral drugs, used to combat the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). ...

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