17 August 2004 Tuesday 30 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 Lawyers for countrywide protest tomorrow LAHORE, Aug 16: The Lawyers Joint Action Committee has called upon bar councils and associations across the country to observe Aug 18 as a black day to protest "subversion of parliamentary democracy and undermining of the National Assembly." ... No military operation in Balochistan: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday dispelled the impression about an ongoing military operation in Balochistan and said the law-enforcement agencies were hunting down people who were involved in firing incidents ... Altaf slams operation in Balochistan KARACHI, Aug 16: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that state force is being used against people of Balochistan who are demanding their legitimate rights. ... Govt urged to avoid use of force HARIPUR, Aug 16: The government must avoid using force against the Baloch tribes as it will prove to be harmful for the country's integrity, says the provincial general secretary of the Pakistan Democratic Party, Javed Qureshi. ... Call to stop operations in Balochistan, Wana ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Speakers at a seminar here on Monday called for restoration of true democracy in the country which could ensure constitutional rights to all federating units and stoppage of military operations in tribal areas as well as Balochistan. ... Gwadar project, military operation opposed HYDERABAD, Aug 16: Awami Tehrik chairman Rasool Bux Palijo has demanded an end to the army operation in Balochistan and warned that the operation will undermine solidarity of the country. ... Balochistan PA forms body to discuss PSDP QUETTA, Aug 16: Opposition's prolonged protest in the Balochistan Assembly has ended after the formation of a committee to discuss the public sector development programme and other contentious issues. ... Smaller provinces being ignored: Asfandyar PESHAWAR, Aug 16: Awami National Party president Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan on Monday warned that there would be a 1971-like situation in the country if the centre failed to remove the sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces. ... Rashid asked to place wage award issue before cabinet ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has directed Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to place the issue of the 7th Wage Board Award for newspaper employees before the cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday. ... Independence Day awards for PAF officers ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The President has conferred military awards to 49 officers and JCOs of Pakistan Air Force on the occasion of 57th independence day. According to a PAF release, the awards included 2 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 10 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), 9 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz(Military) and 2 Tamgha-i-Basalat. ... Rs1bn released to provinces, NA told: Access to justice plan ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The government informed the National Assembly on Monday that it had released Rs1 billion to the provinces during the financial year 2003-04 under the Access to Justice Programme (AJP). ... NWFP assured of Japanese assistance PESHAWAR, Aug 16: The outgoing Ambassador of Japan, Minoru Shibuya, has assured the Frontier government that Japan would continue to play a major role as a development partner to improve infrastructure in the province. ... Shift in Kashmir policy criticized ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: United Kingdom House of Lords member Lord Nazir Ahmed has criticized what he termed Pakistan's clear deviation from its stated position on Kashmir while pursuing a dialogue with India. ... Kashmir issue 'threat to peace process' LAHORE, Aug 16: The Kashmir issue is a potential threat to the ongoing Indo-Pakistan peace process. This was stated by Indian scholar Gautam Navalakha while speaking on security and disarmament in South Asia ...

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