16 July 2004 Friday 27 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 MMA ready to discuss joint candidate with ARD LAHORE, July 15: MMA president and Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Qazi Husain Ahmed said on Thursday that religious parties were ready to discuss with the ARD possibilities of fielding a joint candidate against Shaukat Aziz. ... PPP committees to monitor by-polls ISLAMABAD, July 15: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has formed three special committees to monitor the by- elections in Attock and Tharparkar, a source told Dawn here on Thursday. ... PPP to launch campaign for Asif's release PESHAWAR, July 15: The Pakistan People's Party has decided to launch a campaign for the release of Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, who has been languishing in different prisons since November 6, 1996. ... MMA rally opposes sending of troops to Iraq KARACHI, July 15: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Thursday held a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club against the government's alleged intention to send troops to Iraq to support occupation forces there. ... Jatoi slams Armitage's remarks KARACHI, July 15: The National People's Party chairman and former caretaker prime minister, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, on Thursday deplored reported remarks by the US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage ... Local govt system needs tuning - CM PESHAWAR, July 15: The local government system needs "fine- tuning" as the application of power and authority has turned unruly in the absence of a check and balance mechanism, says NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani. ... Party seeks share in NWFP cabinet PESHAWAR, July 15: The Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith Pakistan has urged the NWFP government to accomodate the party in the provincial cabinet and said that it should be given what it termed authoritative slots in the Frontier government. ... Jirga backs ban on political activities KHAAR, July 15: A tribal jirga has called for steps to make the ban on political activities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas more effective. ... Electoral record submitted to SHC - MQM's petition KARACHI, July 15: The election of successful candidates could be challenged before competent tribunals even if the Election Commission order against the May 12 by polls in the city was suspended or set aside by the high court ... Leader vow to struggle for Baloch rights QUETTA, July 15: The National Party (NP), the Balochistan National Party -Mengal(BNP-M) and the Baloch Students Organization observed the death anniversary of the July 15 martyrs on Thursday. ... Pakistan ranks 142nd in human development UNITED NATIONS, July 15: Following are the 177 countries ranked in the 2004 Human Development Index, issued by the UN Development Programme on Thursday. ... NAB hands over Rs18.6m to railways ISLAMABAD, July 15: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez on Thursday presented a cheque for Rs18.66 million to Pakistan Railways (PR) chairman on account of recovery made by the bureau from Rawalpindi Railways Employees Cooperative Housing Society. ... 'Rs450bn lost in industrial, services sectors' - Mismanagement, inferior service ISLAMABAD, July 15: Almost Rs450 billion is lost in industrial as well as services sectors every fiscal year due to poor quality of services, waste of time and lack of control over the managerial system. ... Steps under way to check noise pollution, Senate told ISLAMABAD, July 15: The use of pressure horns in vehicles, especially in rickshaws, is the main source of noise pollution in major cities, Minister of State for Environment Major (retired) Tahir Iqbal told the Senate on Wednesday. ... Rail fare can't be reduced: minister LAHORE, July 15: Railway Minister Ghous Bakhsh Mehr said on Thursday that fares could not be reduced. Speaking at a news conference here, the minister said hike in petroleum prices and increase in salaries and pension had warranted a raise in fares recently. ... 2 tankers with fuel for US forces catch fire QUETTA, July 15: Two oil tankers carrying jet fuel for the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan were destroyed in the border town of Chaman after a fire engulfed them on Thursday. A hotel was also partially damaged. ... Attique may become AJK senior minister MUZAFFARABAD, July 15: The much-awaited expansion of the AJK cabinet is likely to take place within a week and there are strong indications that Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan will be inducted as senior minister. ... Equal rights for women not yet ensured: report PESHAWAR, July 15: A study conducted by the Zakat, Ushr, Social Welfare and Women Development department, NWFP, has pinpointed Pakistan's failure to fulfil its international commitments in respect of ensuring equal rights for women. ... PTDC's performance criticized SKARDU, July 15: Parliamentary secretary for Northern Areas and Kashmir Affairs Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf has expressed dissatisfaction over the arrangements made by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation for the golden jubilee celebrations ... Anti-polio drive concludes ISLAMABAD, July 15: About 35 million children under five years of age were given anti-polio drops all over the country and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir during the three-day nation wide campaign. ...

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