02 August 2004 Monday 15 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 PPP pledges continued support for Musharraf KARACHI, Aug 1: The Pakistan People's Party, emerging out of the merger of the Sherpao and Patriots factions of the PPP, on Sunday announced to continue playing its positive role within and outside the parliament with an aim of strengthening democratic institutions in the country. ... Opposition plans to requisition session ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The opposition is considering to requisition a Senate session to discuss "worsening" law and order situation with reference to the suicide attack on Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and the issue of the killing of two Pakistanis in Iraq, sources told Dawn on Sunday. ... ARD blames foreign policy for attack PESHAWAR, Aug 1: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has condemned the attempt on the life of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and blamed it on what it called faulty foreign policy of the government. ... Shujaat, Pervaiz meet Aziz ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussian and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi met Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz at his residence on Sunday. ... Attack on Aziz: 15 detained ATTOCK, Aug 1: Fifteen more people, including activists of banned religious militant organizations, have been arrested by law-enforcement agencies from various parts of Attock district, sources said. ... Nadra contacted to identify bomber: Attempt on Aziz's life RAWALPINDI, Aug 1: A joint investigating team, comprising police and intelligence officials, is taking help from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify the person who had blown himself in a terrorist attack on Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz in Attock on Friday ... Punjab govt compensates victims heirs - Fatehjang suicide bombing RAWALPINDI, Aug 1: Punjab government on Sunday announced a compensation package for the victims of Fatehjang suicide bombing in which eight people were killed and about 70 injured. ... ANP not to support MMA in any form LAHORE, Aug 1: The Awami National Party (ANP) says it will neither support MMA's candidate as leader of the opposition in the Senate nor endorse any joint opposition, including the religious alliance. ... Dictatorship main cause of terrorist acts: Rana Sana LAHORE, Aug 1: PML-N parliamentary party leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah Khan thinks that the absence of a genuinely democratic system is the major cause of the growing number of terrorist activities in the country. Talking to reporters here on Sunday, he said unless Pakistan was made an open and democratic society, lawlessness would not come under control. ... Categorical announcement about troops for Iraq urged LAHORE, Aug 1: Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, Mian Muhammad Azhar, former chief justice of Pakistan Syed Sajjad Ali Shah, former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro, ex-federal ministers Ghulam Sarwar Cheema and Wazir Ahmed Jogezai and ex-senator Tariq Chaudhry on Sunday called upon the government to make a categorical announcement that it would not send troops to Iraq. ... PTI urges govt not to send troops to Iraq ISLAMABAD Aug 1: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has urged the government not to send troops to Iraq under any pretext and demanded a categorical statement in this regard. ... Govt policy blamed for execution of hostages ISLAMABAD Aug 1: President Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Nifaz-i- Shariat) Engineer Salimullah Khan has accused President General Musharraf of delaying a categorical statement on not sending troops to Iraq that led to the murder of two Pakistani workers. ... Operation if talks do not yield results: Hayat - Violence in Balochistan KARACHI, Aug 1: Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Sunday that the government might mount an operation in Balochistan if 'misguided sub-nationalists' did not stop acts of violence and engage with the government in a dialogue to resolve the issues. ... Army operation in Balochistan criticized KARACHI, Aug 1: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has strongly criticized the ongoing army operation in Balochistan, and demanded an immediate halt to it and efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue. ... Enhanced ties with China stressed BEIJING, Aug 1: Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro on Sunday underlined the need to develop existing strategic partnership with China for economic uplift of the two people. ... PFUJ rejects Defamation Bill ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) on Sunday rejected the Defamation Bill presented by the government in the National Assembly last week, and termed it a bid to silence the people and the press. ... Central excise, ST dept to be merged ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The government has decided to merge the central excise wing in sales tax department as part of re-structuring of the tax administration. ... Detailed study of WTO issues stressed ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: International Islamic University President Dr Mehmood Ahmed Ghazi has underlined the importance of detailed and exhaustive study of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to meet the challenges arising from implementation of the regime. ... AG Office reports Wapda's internal audit failures LAHORE, Aug 1: The Auditor-General of Pakistan office has pointed out in its report for the year 2001-02 that Wapda (Water and Power Development Authority) failed to produce even a single internal-audit report despite having an elaborate set-up for the purpose. ... Tourism team to leave for India today ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: A high level delegation, led by tourism and cultural secretary Syed Jalil Abbas, will leave for India on Monday. According to the press release issued here, the director- generals of ministry of foreign affairs, interior ... Indian technical aid to Daska manufacturers SIALKOT, Aug 1: A delegation of Indian agricultural scientists and experts, led by Prof Sukhraaj Singh Dhilun and Director Harminder Singh on Sunday visited various leading farm machinery manufacturing units in Daska City amid tight security. ... Denial of citizenship questioned PESHAWAR, Aug 1: The interior division has violated judgments of the superior courts and rules framed by the government by rejecting applications of two Indian women seeking Pakistani citizenship, claim legal experts. ... JKLF seeks NALC empowerment GILGIT, Aug 1: The chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan has demanded the empowerment of the Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) so that the bureaucratic machinery could be made subordinate to the elected representatives ... Wali Khan hospitalized PESHAWAR, Aug 1: Veteran politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan has been admitted to a hospital where his family says his condition is improving. Family sources said that Wali Khan was taken to the Rehman Medical Institute here on Friday after developing pulmonary odema (lungs congestion). ...

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