06 August 2004 Friday 19 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 N-plan to be upgraded, says Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that the country's nuclear programme is a vital national asset and necessary steps would be taken to further improve, upgrade and refine it. ... PPP-SB man withdraws in favour of Aziz KARACHI, Aug 5: Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto) candidate for NA-229 Tharparkar, Noor Mohammed Bhatti, has announced his withdrawal from the by-election in favour of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. ... Aziz as PM a bane: PPP-P KARACHI, Aug 5: The Pakistan People's Party-Parliamentarians has predicted that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz's election as prime minister would culminate in Pakistan's total adherence to American security concerns and submission to the IMF and World Bank. ... Imtiaz meets Pagara KARACHI, Aug 5: Chief of his faction of the Pakistan Muslim League Pir Pagara has declared that he has nothing against provincial Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, the recently appointed Secretary General of the Sindh chapter of the unified PML. ... No military operation under way: Jam Yousuf QUETTA, Aug 5: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf said on Thursday that no army operation was under way in the province and the government wanted to resolve all issues through negotiations. ... Mly operations be stopped, says Mumtaz KARACHI, Aug 5: Chairman of the Sindh National Front (SNF) Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto on Thursday described launching of the military operation in Balochistan as 'mistake'. ... Nationalists condemn operation in Balochistan HYDERABAD, Aug 5: Nationalist leaders of Sindh in a series of press conferences and statements have criticized the ongoing military operation in Balochistan. ... Bugti slams army action, urges talks SUKKUR, Aug 5: The president of the Jamhoori Watan Party, Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti, has urged the government to stop what he called a military operation launched in Balochistan ... Centre asks Punjab govt to submit report: Attack on Aziz RAWALPINDI, Aug 5: The centre has directed the Punjab government to immediately submit an inquiry report on attempt on the life of Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz in Jaffar village near Fatehjang, a source told Dawn. ... 'Leadership must assess Kargil issue' LAHORE, Aug 5: Jamaatud Daawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has called for an assessment of the Kargil issue by the military and political leadership and said that both sides should accept their mistakes in handling the affair. ... Prosperity in region linked to peace: Pakistan-India talks ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The ongoing talks between Pakistan and India will lead to a meaningful and sustainable outcome in the form of abiding peace and friendship only if the two governments sincerely strived for the betterment of the common man in both the countries. ... JI to hold world Islamic gathering PESHAWAR, Aug 5: A three-day world Islamic congregation will be held at the Minar-i-Pakistan, Lahore, from Oct 1 to 3 under the aegis of Jamaat-i-Islami in which Muslim leaders from across the world will participate. ... Rashid denies media claims ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on Thursday rejected a report by a foreign news channel claiming that Pakistan had terrorist training camps on its territory. ... Aziz for coordination in social sector ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said the government was determined to improve the level of social services, enabling the people of Pakistan to get better healthcare, education and social services. ... US firm to invest $20m in IT sector ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: US vice-president Dick Cheney's former firm, Halliburton, plans to invest $20 million in the next two to three years in Pakistan's IT sector. ... Expert testifies in blast case KARACHI, Aug 5: An anti-terrorism court recorded on Thursday the statement of a bomb disposal expert in the Macedonian Consulate bomb blast case against nine workers of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi. ... Courts may be shifted from MTRI premises KARACHI, Aug 5: The National Assembly's standing committee on local government and rural development has recommended the relocation of the National Accountability Bureau courts functioning in the premises of the Municipal Training and Research Institute, Karachi. ... Party to decide about participation in NSC meeting - Durrani NATHIA GALI, Aug 5: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani Thursday said he would abide by his party decision on participation in the next National Security Council meeting. ... Law to regulate use of disposable medical devices soon ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: A law to prevent infectious and contagious diseases is being developed under which manufacturing, import, sale, quality and use of disposable medical devices will be regulated. ... PCP told to speed up dues recovery ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed its concern over the accumulated losses incurred by Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) to the tune of Rs552.66 million during the year 2000-2001. ... Italy to build K-2 museum SKARDU, Aug 5: The Italian minister for agriculture and forestry Giavino Allemanno laid the foundation stone here for the construction of a museum to the mountaineering efforts on K-2. ... Rail link with Iran in a year and half LAHORE, Aug 5: An Iranian delegation has assured the Pakistan Railways authorities that link between Zahidan and Kirman would be established within one-and-a-half years. ... Special UK visa service for traders SIALKOT, Aug 5: The British High Commission has introduced a special seven-day visa service scheme for the business community of Pakistan. ... Inclusion of NAs in access to justice plan urged ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The Northern Areas High Court Bar Association (NAHBA) has said the region should be included in the Access to Justice Programme . ... Unicef steps up campaign for girls' education SWABI, Aug 5: The United Nations Fund for Children (Unicef) has stepped upits campaign for imparting quality education to young girls who do not have means to go to schools. ... Another car for speaker of AJK assembly MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 5: The secretariat of the AJK Legislative Assembly will be purchasing a second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser costing Rs3.5 million in a couple of days for Speaker Sardar Siab Khalid. ...

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