04 August 2004 Wednesday 17 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 PPP criticizes Aziz's policies MITHI, Aug 3: Leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro has alleged that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz's policies have given rise to unemployment, inflation and frustration leading desperate people to suicide. ... LHC again urged to disqualify Shaukat LAHORE, Aug 3: Advocate M. D. Tahir has again approached the Lahore High Court seeking disqualification of Shaukat Aziz from contesting by-election and a direction to the Chief Election Commissioner to stay elections in Attock and Tharparker. ... Independent candidate withdraws in favour of ARD ATTOCK, Aug 3: Independent candidate for by-polls in NA-59, Attock III, Abdul Qadoos Awan, on Tuesday withdrew from the contest in favour of the ARD candidate, Dr Sikandar Hayat. ... ARD meeting to be held in Islamabad ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: A meeting of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), tentatively scheduled to be organized in Lahore on August 7, will now be held in Islamabad, said the alliance secretary-general, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra. ... Imtiaz to reorganize PML in Sindh KARACHI, Aug 3: The Pakistan Muslim League, Sindh chapter, has embarked upon a '100-day strategy' to activate workers and reorganize the party from grassroots to provincial level to mobilize the cadre for the upcoming local government elections. ... PML-N for ownership rights to Okara farmers ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: PML-N Central Information Secretary Muhammad Siddique-ul-Farooque has strongly condemned the arrest of Okara journalist Sarwar Mujahid and has demanded his immediate release. ... HR situation, press laws irk lawyers KARACHI, Aug 3: The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Pakistan (LCHRP) has declared former senator Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) acting president Javed Hashmi as "prisoners of conscience" and demanded their immediate release. ... Benazir concerned over water shortage in Sindh ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Former prime minister and Chairperson Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto has expressed deep concern over artificial shortage of water in Larkana in particular and in Sindh in general. ... JI leader condemns suicide attacks MARDAN, Aug 3: Chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Monday condemned suicide attacks and other terrorist incidents, saying that only peaceful and democratic means could change the nation's destiny. ... Military action in Balochistan opposed QUETTA, Aug 3: National Party Secretary-General Mir Hasil Bizenjo on Tuesday urged the government to initiate talks for resolving issues related to Balochistan and warned that extra-constitutional methods pursued by the military rulers would complicate the situation. ... Ponam demands end to military operation ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement on Monday criticized the government for launching an "unannounced military operation" in Balochistan and called for an immediate halt to it. ... Senate body studies bill on bar councils LAHORE, Aug 3: Senate's standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs has whetted a bill aimed at amending the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act-1973 ... HR processing system being upgraded by army ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The military authorities have decided to substantially cut defence expenditures by 're-engineering' the paper-based processes in the Pakistan Army and introducing modern automated human resource procedures. ... Speaker meets Japan's minister ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain held a meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. ... Talks 'not to last long if Kashmir is ignored' LAHORE, Aug 3: Federal information minister Sheikh Rashid says peace talks with India will not last long if the Kashmir dispute is ignored. ... 'India not serious in talks' ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan said on Monday that India was not serious about holding a meaningful dialogue as it was not giving any timeframe to resolve the Kashmir dispute. ... Shujaat seeks suggestions for better health care LAHORE, Aug 3: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Husain has asked the medical professionals to float ideas to improve the quality of services and facilities. ... Ex-minister declared proclaimed offender PESHAWAR, Aug 3: A former provincial minister and provincial vice-president of the Pakistan People's Party, Syed Qamar Abbas, was declared a proclaimed offender by a judicial magistrate, Asghar Shah Khilji, here on Tuesday. ... Poor must get benefits of economic growth: experts ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The experiences with poverty alleviation across Asia have been "disappointing" due mainly to the ill- defined criteria for categorisation as poor, poorly designed programmes and elite capture, says a report ... Call to check trafficking of narcotics ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The regulatory and operational staff of relevant agencies needs to be sensitized about illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in Saarc countries. ... Italy to give 1.3m euros for Karakoram park uplift ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Pakistan and Italy on Tuesday agreed to a pro-active collaboration in forestry, medicinal plants and mountain areas conservancy. ... New record set in K-2 campaign ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: A record number of 127 mountaineers from 12 different expeditions had launched climbing bids on K-2 this season with 43 of them having already reached the summit ... AJK president seeks report MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 3: AJK President Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan has taken stock of the alleged degradation of the famous tourist resort of Pirchinasi and has sought a report from the government departments concerned on the matter ... 35 trucks donated to Kabul TORKHAM, Aug 3: Pakistan on Tuesday donated 35 trucks to Afghanistan as a gesture of goodwill and peace between the two countries. The handing over ceremony was performed at Pak-Afghan border near Torkham. ... Chief Justice asks police to solve people's problems ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nazim Hussain Shah on Tuesday asked the police to handle law and order situation with professionalism and refrain from illegal actions like extra-judicial killings, torture or fake encounters. ... Detention challenged KARACHI, Aug 3: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the deputy attorney general and the advocate-general of Sindh for Aug 10 on a petition challenging the detention of a Pakistani arrested on suspicion of being a wanted Al Qaeda leader ... PR to go break-even by end of current fiscal KARACHI, Aug 3: The Pakistan Railways, at present suffering an annual operational loss of Rs2 billion, will go break-even by the end of current fiscal. ... HRCP warning to govt on Balochistan operation LAHORE, Aug 3; The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has cautioned the government against the continuation of military operation in Balochistan as it could only add to the deep undercurrents of discontent in the province. ... Top literary award for Ada Jafri ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: This year's "Kamal-i-Fun Award" for life time achievement in literature has been given to poet Ada Jafri. She is the first woman recipient of the award since the literary prize was established by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in 1997. ... NWFP yet to formulate new forest rules PESHAWAR, Aug 3: The NWFP government has not been able to notify draft rules of the Forest Ordinance, 2002, even after two years of the promulgation of the new law, official sources said. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004