13 August 2004 Friday 26 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 PML refutes allegations against Aziz ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has refuted allegations that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has concealed details of his assets while submitting nomination papers and asked opposition parties to do "issue-oriented politics." ... Fahim has doubts about fairness of by-elections MIRPURKHAS, Aug 12: People's Party Parliamentarians chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said then Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had offered his son, Makhdoom Jameeluzzaman, the chief ministership of Sindh but he later backed out of his offer. ... PPP alleges pre-poll rigging in NA-229 KARACHI, Aug 12: Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, deputy secretary-general of the Pakistan Peoples' Party, on Thursday said that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz had no locus standi to represent the people of Thar ... Aziz vows to work for prosperity TAXILA, Aug 12: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that after being elected the prime minister, he will put the economy on the right track and also initiate development works in Attock district. ... Removal of big by-poll posters ordered ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan directed the zila nazims and returning officers of NA-59, Attock-III, and NA-229, Tharparkar-I, on Thursday for immediate removal of the banners ... PPP vows to continue supporting Musharraf PESHAWAR, Aug 12: The newly-formed Pakistan People's Party has vowed to continue its political support to President Pervez Musharraf in the greater interest of the country's economic and political stability. ... Altaf asks govt to write off tillers' loans KARACHI, Aug 12: MQM chief Altaf Hussain has urged the government to waive the principal amount and interest on longstanding loans granted to poor and small landholders and agriculturists of Sindh. ... Asif be kept in Karachi till 18th: SHC KARACHI, Aug 12: The Sindh High Court on Thursday granted time to a provincial law officer to verify the fact that if any proposed treatment for ex-Senator Asif Ali Zardari is available at the Ziauddin Hospital Karachi or such a treatment was available in Islamabad also. ... Repeal of Hudood laws demanded PESHAWAR, Aug 12: A civil society forum has demanded repeal of the Hudood laws, saying that their enforcement has done immense injustice to people. ... Pakistan loses $12m to power firm: Arbitration case ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Pakistan has lost a $12 million international arbitration case to a Malaysian power firm after terminating its contract to construct a 288-mw thermal power plant near Karachi, Dawn has learnt. ... Japan to resume $500m assistance ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Japan is likely to resume its $500 million annual assistance to Pakistan during the current calender year especially to help reduce the wide spread poverty and create new job opportunities across the country. ... Indonesia wants expansion in trade volume MULTAN, Aug 12: Pakistan's inclusion in the ASEAN regional forum will usher new avenues of partnership with Indonesia. This was stated by Indonesian ambassador in Pakistan, Mr Anwar Santoso ... 'Environment assessment a must to get Ecnec funding' ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Environment Impact Assessment will be made one of the prerequisites for all projects whose funding is approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) ... Adoption of international rights bill urged ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Eminent experts urged the government at a seminar here on Thursday to adopt the International Bill of Rights and enable its citizens to benefit from the HR mechanisms evolved by the United Nations. ... Body being set up for technical education ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The government is working on a project to set up national authority for technical and vocational education to promote skill development among youth, Education Minister Zobaida Jalal said on Thursday. ... HEC to build hostel at Sindh university ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to construct a hostel at a cost of Rs15 million for the visiting faculty at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. ... CPNE lauds withdrawal of amendments ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has hailed Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's decision to withdraw proposed amendments to the Defamation Law ... Revision of laws on explosives stressed LAHORE, Aug 12: Federal Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi has emphasized the need for revising and upgrading the existing laws of explosives to meet present day demands. ... Magazine editor tenders apology MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 12: The chief editor of a local magazine, facing contempt of court charges in AJK's superior judiciary, tendered an unconditional apology in the High Court on Thursday ... Body to regulate private hospitals planned ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan has said the government will form a regulatory authority to monitor the functioning of private hospitals in order to check exploitation of poor patients. ...

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