09 July 2004 Friday 20 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Opposition to challenge 'violation' of by-poll rules ISLAMABAD, July 8: The opposition has deputed a team of legal and other experts to raise, what it termed, the violation of election rules by the government in the Attock and Tharparkar by- polls with the election commissioner ... By-polls boycott can 'benefit' opposition LAHORE, July 8: A senior PML-N leader believes that the opposition can benefit by boycotting the Attock and Tharparkar by-polls. Rana Sanaullah, parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly ... Has the ARD outlived its utility? LAHORE, July 8: A clash of interests between the People's Party Parliamentarians and the PML-N, two major components of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), have reduced the 16-party coalition to an ineffective grouping. ... Musharraf has no way to escape: MMA ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has announced that the December 31 deadline set for Gen Musharraf to quit the army chief office, will not be extended in any case. ... 'World concerned over fate of democracy' ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief coordinator Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said recent political developments in Pakistan had heightened international community's concerns and uncertainty over the fate of democracy in the country ... PML-N resents Shujaat's remarks ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) information secretary Mohammad Siddiqul Farooque has resented the use of what he said "abusive" language by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at a public meeting in Sindh. ... PPP chalks out election strategy MIRPURKHAS, July 8: The People's Party Parliamentarians has finalized its strategy to give a tough time to Pakistan Muslim League candidate Shaukat Aziz in the August 19 by-election in Tharparkar. ... PPP holds protest demo against assassinations KARACHI, July 8: The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians's Karachi president Muzaffar Shujara and general secretary Habibuddin Junaidi on Thursday criticized the government for its failure to arrest the killers of Abdullah Murad and Munawwar Suharwardy. ... Shujaat tells Sindh to appoint lobbyist KARACHI, July 8: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has asked the Sindhi press to play its role in removing sense of deprivation among Sindhi population. He was speaking at the breakfast hosted for editors of Sindhi dailies at the State Guest House here on Thursday. ... PM visits Quaid's mausoleum KARACHI, July 8: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Thursday visited the Mazar of Quaid-i-Azam. He placed floral wreath and offered fateha. He wrote in the Visitors' Book: "We should always follow the policies of our Quaid." ... Pervaiz leaves for UAE LAHORE, July 8: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi left here for a five-day private visit to the UAE on Thursday morning. He was accompanied by his family members, officials said. ... Embassies asked not to paint bleak picture: Law and order situation ISLAMABAD, July 8: Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Thursday urged foreign missions in Pakistan to stop painting a bleak picture about the law and order situation and security of diplomats in the country. ... World relief bodies demand access to Wana ISLAMABAD, July 8: The government has rejected a demand of international humanitarian organisations to give them access to Wana for relief operations in the wake of events in the region which these organisations claim fall in the category of an "internal armed conflict," ... Govt lifts sanctions on Ahmadzai Wazir sub-tribes PESHAWAR, July 8: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, announced on Thursday lifting of economic blockades against some sub-tribes of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe in the South Waziristan tribal region. ... Senate panel seeks end to illegal occupation ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Senate's standing committee on housing and works on Thursday called for getting the government houses vacated from illegal occupation of police officials in Islamabad. ... Resolution of issues with India stressed KARACHI, July 8: The federal minister for information and broadcasting, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, has said Pakistan desires to resolve all outstanding problems with India including the core issue of Kashmir with a spirit of amity, reconciliation and good atmosphere. ... Meeting today to discuss strategy for Siachen talks ISLAMABAD, July 8: An inter-ministerial meeting has been convened at the defence ministry in Rawalpindi on Friday to discuss the strategy for the proposed dialogue with India on the Siachen glacier, it is learnt. ... 'Security system soon on Shanghai pattern' ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for setting up a "comprehensive security system" in the country, Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat told reporters at a press conference here on Thursday after his return from a four-day visit to China. ... Rs66bn plan launched to improve 86,000 watercourses ISLAMABAD, July 8: The federal government has launched an ambitious plan to improve over 86,000 watercourses throughout Pakistan over a four-year period which is estimated to cost more than Rs66 billion. ... Flaws found in Sindh population welfare programme ISLAMABAD, July 8: The federal government has refused to accord approval to Sindh government's Rs3.5 billion Population Welfare Programme "because of a number of flaws in it." ... Sargodha varsity to be linked with other institutions ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to link University of Sargodha with the rest of public- sector universities through computer networking, said an official statement. ... PBC concerned over law and order situation ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Pakistan Bar Council has expressed concern about the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, especially in Sindh. ... 'Kashmiris must be involved in talks' ISLAMABAD, July 8: Kashmiris are the basic partners in the Kashmir issue and they must be included in the dialogue between Pakistan and India, says a leader of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference. ... AJK Bar not to recognize Al Khair varsity MUZAFFARABAD, July 8: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council has decided not to recognize the private sector Al Khair University or issue advocacy licences to its law graduates. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004