14 July 2004 Wednesday 25 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 'National interests being ignored' LAHORE, July 13: Exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has criticized the policies being pursued since his ouster in October 1999, and says the rulers have turned their back on the vital national interests. ... Muttahida wants chairmanship of two more NA committees ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has asked the government to give chairmanship of two more standing committees of the National Assembly to the party. ... PPP position on ineligibility of Aziz 'vindicated' ISLAMABAD, July 13: PPP parliamentary leader in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has said his party's position on the issue of 'ineligibility' of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to contest elections before resigning from his office ... ARD leader warns against rigging in Attock by-polls ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) chief coordinator and PPP leader, Malik Hakmeen Khan, has warned the government to restrain itself, from what he said, rigging the by-election in Attock. ... PTI for joint candidate ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) acting secretary-general, Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Zulfiqar, has urged the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to agree on a joint candidate in the forthcoming bye-elections in Tharparkar and Attock. ... LG system seen causing rift among state tiers KARACHI, July 13: The federal government and President Gen Pervez Musharraf were strongly criticized on Tuesday for implanting a system of governance, which had accentuated tension between various tiers of the government and made the centre's writ more dubious. ... Hearing in ARY reference adjourned RAWALPINDI, July 13: The accountability court No. 2 here on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in the ARY reference against the PPP leader, Asif Ali Zardari, till July 29. ... NA committee seeks Illegal Dispossession Bill amended ISLAMABAD, July 13: A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Tuesday discussed the Illegal Dispossession Bill, 2003 and the Contempt of Court Bill, 2003. ... Gustasip fears misuse of Hasba law PESHAWAR, July 13: The leader of opposition in the NWFP Assembly, Shahzada Gustasip said on Monday that the opposition would oppose the proposed Hasba Act, because the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal could misuse it for its own political gains. ... Pakistan not sending troops to Iraq: Rashid KARACHI, July 13: Federal information minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed said on Tuesday that Pakistani forces were not being sent to Iraq. "It is an honour for Pakistan that its ambassador to US Ashraf Jahangir Qazi has been nominated as special envoy to UN in Iraq" ... Abdullah for improvement in bilateral relations ISLAMABAD, July 13: Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan need to strengthen political and economic relations. ... NA body summons Punjab home secy ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Monday took a serious notice of the "wilful" absence of the Punjab home secretary from the meeting and directed that in the next meeting he should personally explain the reasons for his absence. ... Jakarta chamber, ICCI, to sign MoU ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) will sign a memorandum of understanding with Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry to institutionalize relationship between the business communities of the two countries. ... BD seeks strong trade ties with Pakistan KARACHI, July 13: Bangladesh, which has become self-sufficient in food production and can meet the requirements of its 130 million people, is desirous of establishing complementary trade with Pakistan. ... 'Open courts' waiting for 'judges' and powers LAHORE, July 13: "Open kutcheries", or courts, started at the Muslim League House only a few months after Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi became the Punjab chief minister, have failed to serve the purpose they were launched for and the aggrieved people ... Over 4,500 inducted into PIA in 5 years ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) appointed 4,553 people, mostly on contract basis, between October 1, 1999 to May 31, 2004, shows a ministry of defence document available to Dawn. ... Border along Mohmand Agency sealed PESHAWAR, July 13: The Pakistan Army, with the active support of local tribesmen, FC and Khasadar force, has effectively sealed the border in Mohmand Agency which shares 68-kilometre-long international border with Afghanistan ... SC dismisses appeal in corruption case ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed appeals of an accounts officer of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Iqbal Ahmed Turabi involved in a corruption reference, but reduced the sentence of his wife Mrs Najma Iqbal from five to three years. ... Body approves amendment to Senate rules of business ISLAMABAD, July 13: A special committee of Senate on Tuesday approved an amendment, moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Raza Hayat Hiraj, to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 1988. ... ADB provides Rs93.5m for health project PESHAWAR, July 13: The Asian Development Bank has provided a Rs93.57 million loan to the NWFP for the reproductive health and safe motherhood project in eight high-risk districts of the province, an official said on Tuesday. ... Bad debt, political interference plague bank PESHAWAR, July 13: With one of the highest infection ratios, dwindling profits, bickering at the top management level and blatant political interference ... Flour mill-owners meet tomorrow PESHAWAR, July 13: The Pakistan Flour Mills Association will hold a meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the deadline given for strike against using delaying tactics by Punjab ... Subsidy on gas to domestic consumers cut KARACHI, July 13: In a move that marks a departure from traditional government policy, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has reduced the level of subsidy available to domestic consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company. ... Reunification of APHC groups welcomed MUZAFFARABAD, July 13: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat on Tuesday welcomed the likely reunification of different factions of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference ...

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