19 August 2004 Thursday 02 Rajab 1425 Shaukat Aziz vows to put economy on right track ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Prime Minister designate Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said that efforts will be made to change the life of common man and put the country's economy on right track. ... Polls peaceful but hardly fair: HRCP ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday alleged serious violations of election rules and rigging in the by-elections in Attock and Tharparkar. ... PPP alleges rigging in Thar by-polls KARACHI, Aug 18: The Pakistan People's Party on Wednesday accused the government of massive rigging and abuse of state apparatus in NA-229 Tharparkar by-elections. ... PPP thanks workers LAHORE, Aug 18: Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia on Wednesday thanked all party leaders, legislators and workers who took part in the campaign for ARD candidate Dr Sikandar Hayat from NA-59 (Attock). ... Lawyers observe black day GUJRANWALA, Aug 18: Lawyers across the province observed a black day on Wednesday on the occasion of by-polls on two NA seats for the nominated prime minister on the appeal of the Pakistan Bar Council. ... Army, politicians blamed for crisis: Asghar blasts parties' role PESHAWAR, Aug 18: Central leader of the Pakistan National Forum Air Marshal (retired) Asghar Khan has said that both politicians and the army are responsible for the prevalent political crisis in the country. ... Asif allowed to stay in Karachi till 31st KARACHI, Aug 18: The Sindh High Court allowed Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday to stay on in Karachi till Aug 31 pending hearing of his plea for permanent transfer to a city hospital for treatment of his spinal chord problem. ... PA okays IT board amendment bill-2004: PPP away from session KARACHI, Aug 18: In a lacklustre session, the Sindh Assembly on Monday approved the Sindh Information Technology Board amendment bill. Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah presided over the session which commenced very late. ... Sindh facing 40pc water shortage: PA told KARACHI, Aug 18: Sindh Minister for Irrigation and Power Nadir Akmal Leghari has said that Sindh is experiencing water shortage to the extent of 40 per cent. ... SC dismisses plea against Muttahida legislators KARACHI, Aug 18: A three-member bench of Supreme Court dismissed here on Wednesday a petition seeking disqualification of the legislators of Muttahida Qaumi Movement. ... PM's Secretariat plotting to crush MQM: Altaf KARACHI, Aug 18: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has alleged that a conspiracy was hatched by the Prime Minister's Secretariat for crushing his party and creating a splinter group, if necessary, through an operation akin to the one launched in June 1992. ... Al Qaeda a fictitious group, says JI leader RAWALPINDI, Aug 18: The Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief (Punjab), MNA Mian Mohammad Aslam, has said that Al Qaeda is a fictitious group. The JI leader, in a press release issued here on Wednesday, said the passion for Al Qaeda had been sponsored by the western media. ... Durrani seeks report on service structure PESHAWAR, Aug 18: Chief Minister Akram Durrani directed the heads of provincial departments to prepare a comprehensive report for the restructuring of government employees' service structure, said a handout issued here. ... JWP alleges attempt to sabotage talks QUETTA, Aug 18: The Jamhoori Watan Party has termed the killing of security personnel on the Sui-Kashmore road on Monday an attempt by vested interests to sabotage the process of negotiations between the federal government and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. ... Hearing of Jundullah men's case adjourned KARACHI, Aug 18: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of trial against activists of Jundullah in corps commander's motorcade attack and other cases as the accused could not be produced before the court. ... Asian economies told to focus on human development ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: South Asia has sustained an average growth rate of 5.5 percent per annum over the past two decades despite many external and domestic shocks. ... 'S. Asia needs to open services sector for investment' ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The South Asian countries should open their services sectors for investment and seek unconditional market access for their services in developed countries. ... USAID to provide $14 million to improve legislative governance ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Consortium (PLSC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Senate Secretariat to implement a project titled "Strengthening national, provincial legislative governance in Pakistan". ... Cabinet for wage board award implementation ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The federal cabinet which met on Wednesday with Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the chair decided to implement the 7th Wage Board Award for newspaper employees in accordance with the existing law on the subject. ... PTCL regularization in two phases ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Pakistan Telecommunications Company (PTCL) would regularize services of its over 7,000 daily-wage workers in two phases who have been working with the company since 1992. ... IT exports up by 48pc, says minister ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The information technology export registered a 48 per cent growth last year, which is a good omen and will lead to economic revolution in the country, Federal Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said on Wednesday. ... Fellowships: HEC to hold test on 29th ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced that the GRE test for award of 1,000 indigenous fellowships will be held on August 29. ... Port officials blamed for Tasman Spirit disaster KARACHI, Aug 18: The Oil Tanker 'M V Tasman Spirit' had run aground in Karachi harbour's channel last year due to corruption and negligence of top Karachi Port Trust officials, many of whom are non-technical people ... Ghazi Barotha produced 5.77bn units in a year LAHORE, Aug 18: The Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP) has produced 5.77 billion units of electricity during the first year of its operation. ... Labour Party says socialism still practicable LAHORE, Aug 18: The Labour Party Pakistan thinks that socialism is still practicable and can attract the local masses if left-wing parties raise the slogan of "education ... Afghans observe Independence Day PESHAWAR, Aug 18: The Consul-General of Afghanistan in Peshawar, Haji Abdul Khaliq, has advised his Afghan compatriots living in the NWFP refugee camps to get themselves registered as voters and take part in the elections scheduled for October this year. ...

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