28 July 2004 Wednesday 10 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 Sharif directs party MPs to raise Kargil issue LAHORE, July 27: Challenging Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Husain's assertion that as the head of government he was aware of the Kargil operation, Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the man who worked for peace with India could not have approved such a plan. ... Fahim asked to contact anti-govt forces LAHORE, July 27: Ms Benazir Bhutto has directed Makhdoom Amin Fahim to establish contact with anti-government forces to get their support to bring an end to the army's role in politics and restore genuine democracy in the country. ... PPP forms human rights wing LAHORE, July 27: The Pakistan People's Party has established a human rights wing to serve as a watchdog to monitor the state of the rights of the people in all walks of life with a particular focus on the poor and the deprived. ... APC seeks removal of generals KARACHI, July 27: An all parties conference, organized by the Jamat-i-Islami, on Tuesday called upon all opposition parties to shun their petty differences and unite on a platform to remove generals for the restoration of 1973 Constitution in its original shape. ... Hudood and blasphemy laws not to be repealed: Ijaz defends syllabi changes KARACHI, July 27: Religious Affairs Federal Minister Muhammad Ijazul Haq said on Tuesday that the government was not trying to repeal blasphemy laws and the Hudood Ordinance. ... No decision on sending troops to Iraq: Ijaz - Jamaat-i-Islami not being banned KARACHI, July 27: Federal Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Ijazul Haq said on Tuesday that Pakistan has yet to decided whether to send its troops to Iraq or not. ... Ban on Qazi's entry into tribal areas condemned LAHORE, July 27: The MMA parliamentary party in the Punjab Assembly has condemned the ban on entry of alliance chief Qazi Husain Ahmad into tribal areas. ... PM's remarks about troops for Iraq criticized ISLAMABAD, July 27: The Pakistan Muslim League-N women leaders have criticized Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's statement that Pakistani troops can be sent to Iraq after consulting Muslim countries. ... Debate on domestic violence bill goes on LAHORE, July 27: The Punjab Assembly's Standing Committee on Home Affairs continued a discussion on the domestic violence bill here on Tuesday as the mover claimed that the opposition's wave to the bill had subsided. ... Balochistan cabinet vows to curb terrorism QUETTA, July 27: The Balochistan Cabinet has decided to take action against elements creating law and order problems in the province. The meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf on Tuesday. ... LHC rejects cases of six army officials RAWALPINDI, July 27: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday dismissed for lack of jurisdiction cases of six army officers arrested for allegedly violating the Army Act. ... Sherpao to discuss wheat issue with Shujaat ISLAMABAD, July 27: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that he would take up the issue of providing wheat to NWFP's flour mills would be taken up with Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the chief minister of Punjab. ... Senate body reviews action taken on govt assurances ISLAMABAD, July 27: The Senate committee on government assurances reviewed the implementation status of various assurances given on the floor of the House from time to time. ... President emphasizes speedy justice RAWALPINDI, July 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday called for dispensation of speedy and inexpensive justice to the masses. The president was attending a briefing on the implementation status of the Access to Justice Programme. ... Active role of community in media suggested KARACHI, July 27: The increasing trend of placing advertisements in print media even by cutting news and articles amounts to breach sanctity of thought, which must be discouraged. ... Pakistan ready to set up fibre links with Iran: official ISLAMABAD, July 27: Pakistan on Tuesday told Iran that it was seeking direct fibre links with the neighbouring countries . ... WB to provide $61.14m: Sindh water management project ISLAMABAD, July 27: Pakistan and the World Bank on Tuesday signed a credit agreement amounting to SDR 41 million ($61.14 million equivalent)on water management project in Sindh. ... Announcement of NFC award urged PESHAWAR, July 27: The federal government has been asked to guarantee provincial autonomy announce a new National Finance Commission award in fulfilment of its constitutional obligations. ... Pakistan, UK sign accord to improve police system ISLAMABAD, July 27: Pakistan and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve police system and enhance cooperation in the war against terrorism. ... PIA to stop Gwadar-Muscat flights from August 1 KARACHI, July 27: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to cancel its Gwadar-Muscat-Gwadar operation from Aug 1. The decision was taken in view of refusal by the director- general of the civil aviation authority, Oman, to extend waiver to operate Fokker aircraft. ... Fast track UK visa policy to be introduced, says diplomat HYDERABAD, July 27: The Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Karachi and director of Trade and Investment, Hamish St. Clair Daniel, has said that the UK and Pakistan are partners in many fields. ... Holistic approach urged to improve education KARACHI, July 27: The four-day conference on "policy and planning of education in Pakistan" called for a holistic developmental approach for enhancing quality of education in the country. ... 'Fair distribution of land key to poverty reduction' ISLAMABAD, July 27: Increase in farm income further accentuates inequality because of skewed distribution of land in rural areas in the country as poverty rose from 25 per cent to 39 per cent during the period 1990-2002 ... APNS urges CM, governor to intervene in ads issue KARACHI, July 27: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has requested the governor and chief minister of Sindh to intervene in the curtailment of government advertisements to some newspapers by Sindh Information Department ... Italian-Spanish team scales K-2 SKARDU, July 27: A joint Italian-Spanish expedition team on Monday scaled K-2 peak to celebrate the golden jubilee of its first conquest. The team is being led by Mr Khomitto ... Import duties to stay after WTO regime next year LAHORE, July 27: All import duties will remain in place in Pakistan after the World Trade Organisation regime next year and only the textile quotas will be abolished. ... UN agency to open office for refugee registration PESHAWAR, July 27: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) will open its office in Peshawar next week ... EU to help eliminate child labour PESHAWAR July 27: The European Union plans to initiate an ambitious project to eradicate child labour from three model districts of Pakistan - Shangla, Swat and Faisalabad. ...

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