29 July 2004 Thursday 11 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 Hudood laws to be vetted by CII: Govt accused of delaying debate ISLAMABAD, July 28: The government informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that a bill on eradication of honour killing would be tabled in the house after its approval by the cabinet ... Will it be a walkover for Aziz?: NA-229 (Tharparkar) by-election HYDERABAD, July 28: To many here it came as a joke when the candidate of a nascent nationalist party announced that he was withdrawing from the contest against Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz for the Tharparkar National Assembly seat (NA-299) ... ARD claims MMA's support for its candidate ISLAMABAD, July 28: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has formally contacted the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) to seek its cooperation in the election campaign against Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz in Attock, sources told Dawn here on Wednesday. ... ARD, MMA hope Musharraf will quit as COAS LAHORE, July 28: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal hope that President Pervez Musharraf will step down as army chief by Dec 31, the deadline set by the 17th Constitutional Amendment, without the two alliances pressuring him. ... PPP playing role of real opposition, says Gilani ISLAMABAD, July 28: Vice-chairman Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and former National Assembly speaker Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the PPP is the government-in-waiting and playing the role of real opposition in the country. ... MMA's terms for backing domestic violence bill LAHORE, July 28: The MMA has said that it has offered only conditional support to the domestic violence bill tabled by the ruling coalition's Dr Anjum Amjad. ... ANP backs PML-N's demand for Kargil probe LAHORE, July 28: The Awami National Party has supported the PML-N's demand for setting up a commission on Kargil issue, saying the step is necessary for the country's integrity. ... Plan for nominated Fata council rejected: Parties demand elected bodies PESHAWAR, July 28: Representatives of various political parties and organizations on Wednesday rejected a nominated council for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and urged the government to hold elections for the council. ... Meetings against Kalabagh planned HYDERABAD, July 28: The Anti-Greater Thal Canal Action Committee will hold public meetings in Jacobabad and Dadu on Aug 8 and 29, respectively, to create awareness among people against Kalabagh dam and Thal canal projects. ... Army operation criticized ISLAMABAD, July 28: The Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader and MNA, Abdul Rauf Mengal, on Wednesday strongly condemned the army operation in Turbat, Gawadar and Kohlu. ... Opposition demands end to Turbat operation QUETTA, July 28: Opposition leader in the provincial assembly, Kachkol Ali Baloch has asked the government to stop the search operation in Turbat immediately ... Govt urged to secure release of tribesmen KHAAR, July 28: Relatives of the 15 tribesmen detained in Greece under immigration rules, have urged the government and human rights organizations to make efforts for their release. ... Hearing of appeals in Pearle case adjourned KARACHI, July 28: The Sindh High Court had to adjourn again the hearing of appeals moved by the convicts and the state in US journalist Daniel Pearle's kidnapping and murder case due to the absence of a defence counsel. ... Conservation measures urged for Karakorams ISLAMABAD, July 28: The majesty and beauty of the Karakorams may prove its own enemy before long unless focused measures are taken to conserve their habitat against the depredations inflicted on them especially since the improvement of communications. ... PAC functions to be improved ISLAMABAD, July 28: The government has decided to drastically improve weak functions of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to speed up the accountability process aimed at preventing corrupt practices in the public sector organizations. ... Ministry used only Rs11.9m in 2002-03 ISLAMABAD, July 28: During the financial year 2002-03, the ministry of women development, social welfare and special education was allocated Rs63.744 million, out of which so far Rs11.936 million have been utilized, official documents showed. ... UN agencies working on joint plan for 15 districts MUZAFFARABAD, July 28: A day-long workshop was held here on Tuesday to review the process for integrated district level planning and monitoring of programmes executed by different UN agencies in the district of Muzaffarabad. ... Population growth rate threat to environment MUZAFFARABAD, July 28: The burgeoning population was threatening the Azad Jammu and Kashmir environment, a government official said at a workshop here on Wednesday. ...

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