30 July 2004 Friday 12 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 Meeting to chalk out anti-govt strategy LAHORE, July 29: Some national leaders are meeting here on Sunday to explore the possibilities of framing a joint strategy against the incumbent set-up. Former PML president Mian Azhar is hosting the meeting. ... Azhar backs Pagara's move LAHORE, July 29: Former PML president Mian Azhar and Functional Muslim League chief Pir Pagara have agreed to launch efforts for purging the League of opportunists and Qabza groups. ... MMA opposes change in Hudood laws ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Thursday criticized the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for not taking 'genuine scholars' on board to review hudood ordinances and presenting what it called liberals' point of view while recommending repealing of hudood laws. ... Provincial PML leaders resign PESHAWAR, July 29: Pakistan Muslim League's provincial information secretary, Malik Riaz Ahmad, and some members of the party's provincial council have resigned from their posts to protest against Agha Syed Ali Shah's nomination as the party's provincial president. ... Revision of electoral rolls notified ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Chief Election Commission of Pakistan has notified a programme for the revision of electoral rolls as laid down in CEC's Order No. 1 of 2004 issued on July 1, 2004, ... ARD to launch today by-poll campaign LAHORE, July 29: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy's (ARD) Punjab chapter has announced a schedule of its public meetings in connection with the election campaign of Dr Sikandar Hayat ... PTV, PBC told to ensure balanced coverage ISLAMABAD, July 29: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Thursday issued instructions to the state-owned electronic media to ensure a balanced coverage of the August 18 by-elections in Attock and Tharparkar. ... Qazi calls for observing Friday as protest day: HRCP shocked over execution of Pakistanis LAHORE, July 29: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmad has appealed for observing Friday as a protest day against the killing of two Pakistanis in Iraq. ... PML-N grieved over murder of Pakistanis ISLAMABAD, July 29: Pakistan Muslim League-N has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the killing of Raja Mohammad Azad and Sajid Naeem in Iraq. In a statement here on Thursday, the party's central information secretary, Siddiqul Farooque ... O.5m riyals for families of 2 killed in Iraq ISLAMABAD, July 29: The General Manager of Al-Tamimi Group of Industries, Mohammad Ilyas Khan, said on Thursday that the company has decided to give 0.5 million Saudi riyals each as compensation to the families of Raja Azad and Sajjad Naeem, who were killed by the kidnappers in Iraq. ... Torture justified if used to save lives: MNA ISLAMABAD, July 29: Member of National Assembly M.P. Bhandara has justified the use of torture by the state during investigations. ... ADB to release $7m for gender reforms ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Asian Development Bank has pledged to release a $7 million technical assistance package for gender reform plans. ... Big nations told not to force WTO laws on poor countries ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Sustainable Agriculture Action Group (SAAG) has asked the developed countries, including the European Union, to stop pressuring the poor nations to accept the draft package agreement under the WTO regime. ... US, European advisories 'affecting investments' ISLAMABAD, July 29: Pakistan has urged the United States and European countries to stop issuing negative travel advisories as they were gravely hurting foreign investment and tourism in the country. ... US$114.68m vegetables, fruits exported, NA told ISLAMABAD, July 29: Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan on Thursday told the National Assembly that Pakistan exported fruits and vegetables worth $114.681 million to various countries in the year 2003-04. ... US providing $14m for MPs training, NA told ISLAMABAD, July 29: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the US government was providing $14 million for training of Pakistani legislators through an NGO, for improving the responsiveness of national and provincial legislatures. ... 3 judges elevated to apex court ISLAMABAD, July 29: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday elevated the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court and two of the senior-most judges of the Lahore High Court to fill three seats in the Supreme Court ... Occupants told to vacate SBP flats ISLAMABAD, July 29: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the administration of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) directed 85 families residing in its colony in Islamabad to vacate the government flats. ... Projects launched to phase out ozone depleting substances ISLAMABAD, July 29: The environment ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido), had started three projects for phasing out Ozone depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. ... Madressah registration ban lifted: Zobaida ABBOTTABAD, July 29: Federal Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal has said that the government has lifted a ban on registration of Madressas and necessary funds have been transferred to provinces for onward utilization. ... Madressahs' contribution to education highlighted KARACHI, July 29: Scholars and eminent figures representing the government, religious schools (madressahs), intelligentsia and media, at a round-table seminar, stressed on a national policy to bring modern and religious educational institutions closer to each other. ... Remains of Kohat bomber indicate he was a Pakistani KOHAT, July 29: The bomber who got blown up in one of the two explosions which also killed two security officials appeared to be a Pakistani, an official who examined the remains of the suspected militant told Dawn. ... Inquiry into Okara farms demanded KARACHI, July 29: Various organizations, in a joint statement, have condemned the alleged atrocities by law-enforcement agencies against cultivators of Okara military farms, and demanded a high-level inquiry into the affair. ... Immigration officials in a dilemma LAHORE, July 29: The immigration officials are at a loss to understand how can they execute the orders of the FIA director-general to stop young women from travelling with cultural troupes to the Middle East, as the laws do not have any such provision. ... Implementation of Wage Award demanded KARACHI, July 29: The executive council of the Karachi Union of Journalists has urged the government to ensure early implementation of the Seventh Wage Award, as the continued delay is increasing frustration among newspaper employees. ... Sindh govt refutes APNS charges KARACHI, July 29: The information adviser to the Sindh chief minister, Mr. Salahuddin Haider, has in a statement refuted the charges about dues of government advertisements made by the Sindh committee of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society. ... Palestinian's shifting to Peshawar ordered PESHAWAR, July 29: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the ministry of interior to shift an elderly Palestinian from the Adiala prison to Peshawar. ... Indians to attend Bulleh Shah's Urs LAHORE, July 29: A 100-member Indian delegation will come to Pakistan to attend Baba Bulleh Shah's Urs in Kasur. This was stated by PPP MNA Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmad at a press conference here on Thursday. ...

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