24 August 2004 Tuesday 07 Rajab 1425 Opposition protests against absence of ministers ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Opposition parties walked out of the National Assembly twice on Monday to protest against the absence of ministers from the lower house and the attitude of speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain. ... MMA sets terms for backing Amin Fahim: 'Stop supporting govt' LAHORE, Aug 23: MMA leader Liaquat Baloch said on Monday that the religious alliance could extend support to the PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim as prime ministerial candidate against Mr Shaukat Aziz ... Nawaz urges unity among democratic forces LAHORE, Aug 23: Expressing concern over the prevailing situation in Pakistan, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif called upon all democratic forces on Monday to join hands for a struggle against the present rulers. ... PML-N men meet Asif KARACHI, Aug 23: Senior PML-N leaders from Sindh on Monday called on Mr Asif Ali Zardari and discussed with him matters relating to the differences between two major components of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) ... Musharraf losing grip on govt, claims Asif KARACHI, Aug 23: Asif Ali Zardari on Monday claimed that the system was degenerating very fast due to the 'bunker mentality' of the regime which knew nothing except conquering its own people. ... PPP leaders file petition in SHC - Torture during Thar by-poll alleged HYDERABAD, Aug 23: People's Party Parliamentarians leaders on Monday filed a joint petition in the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, to seek registration of an FIR against some police officers and polling officials. ... Officials to update voters' lists appointed ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Irshad Hasan Khan has appointed 453 revising authorities, 119 registration officers and 1,992 assistant registration officers for updating electoral rolls for local government elections. ... JI amir for unity against 'the terrorist' LAHORE, Aug 23: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmed has begun his visit to Norway with an appeal to the world community to get united against the country involved in or backing terrorism, no matter how mighty. ... CII members not competent: MMA PESHAWAR, Aug 23: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has said the NWFP government has rejected the present set-up of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) as the federal government has inducted incompetent people in the constitutional body. ... JUI demands end to raids on Madressahs ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) on Monday staged a protest demonstration in front of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office here and demanded of the government to immediately stop raids on Madressahs ... Minister defends raids on seminaries ISLAMABAD Aug 23: Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat told Senate on Monday that raids on and arrests from seminaries had proved a link between terrorists and some madressah heads. ... Al Qaeda man's father 'being interrogated' VEHARI, Aug 23: The father of an alleged Al Qaeda operative was arrested last week at his house at Chak 196-EB, about 15 kilometres from here, it is learnt on Monday. ... Thar uplift package in a month ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The government on Monday decided to prepare a comprehensive development package for Tharparkar within a month to honour the commitments made during the recent by-elections. ... Muttahida resents cut in water supply KARACHI, Aug 23: Muttahida Qaumi Movement legislators on Monday criticized the 11 per cent reduction in water supply to Sindh as announced by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and termed it 'injustice with small provinces'. ... ANP opposes construction of Kalabagh Dam ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Information secretary of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former senator Zahid Khan has said the government should drop the idea of building Kalabagh Dam and start construction of Bhasha Dam. ... CM hails formation of Senate committee QUETTA, Aug 23: Chief Minister Jam Yousuf has said that contacts between the federal government and some political groups having apprehensions about mega projects and the formation of a Senate's parliamentary committee are major developments. ... PPP backs Baloch parties' demands QUETTA, Aug 23: PPP Parliamentarian Secretary-General Jahangir Badar has supported demands of Balochistan nationalist parties and groups on provincial autonomy, democracy and control of provincial resources. ... President, PM urged to visit provinces: Consensus on big reservoir aimed ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources (PCWR) has recommended to the president and the prime minister to visit all the four provinces to forge consensus on development of a big reservoir. ... Educators need to reinforce their role: Zobaida ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Educators of the present day need to know their responsibilities which have grown far more to reinforce their role as "intelligent communicators" with their students, Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal said on Monday. ... NWFP mills yet to get Punjab wheat - Transport permits not being issued PESHAWAR, Aug 23: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujat Hussain's announcement to lift ban on the transportation of wheat from Punjab and to provide 100,000 metric tons of wheat to the NWFP ... Seraiki regiment in army sought MULTAN, Aug 23: Seraikistan Qaumi Movement President Hameed Asghar Shaheen has urged establishment of a 'Seraiki Regiment' in the Pakistan Army to make it a national army. ... CBR told to clear backlog by Dec 31 ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Justice (retired) Saleem Akhtar has asked the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to issue instructions to all officers concerned for allowing effect to the orders in appeal and clear the backlog by December 31. ... Mills fear fall in sugar production LAHORE, Aug 23: Mills fear drop in sugar production during the next season (Nov 2004-April 2005) due to shortage of crop reported from different parts of the country. ... Technology centre at UET Lahore ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: A sophisticated Manufacturing Technologies Development Centre (MTDC) will be established at the department of mechanical engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. ... Desecration of holy places condemned MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 23: Hundreds of people took to the streets here on Saturday to protest against the desecration of holy places in Iraq by the US forces. ... Poetry reading sessions in capital ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: A number of poetry reading sessions were held in the federal capital on Saturday which made a lasting impact on the audience. ...

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