28 August 2004 Saturday 11 Rajab 1425 Opposition to boycott NA session today ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The combined opposition has decided to boycott the National Assembly session on Saturday in which prime minister-elect Shaukat Aziz will seek a vote of confidence, Dawn learnt on Friday. ... PPP, PML-N advance US policies, says Qazi LAHORE, Aug 27: The PPP and the PML-N were pro-US in their policies and willing to join hands with secular forces, MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmad said on Friday ... Govt fearful of Hashmi's revelations, claims ARD KARACHI, Aug 27: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Sindh chapter, has condemned the government for not allowing the imprisoned PML-N leader, MNA Javed Hashmi, to attend the Saturday session of the National Assembly ... PML-N rejects Aziz's election LAHORE, Aug 27: Punjab PML-N Vice-President Mian Javed Latif on Friday rejected the election of Shaukat Aziz as prime minister, saying the entire process was a farce. ... Hashmi says he was deprived of constitutional right ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: Jailed president of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and opposition's prime ministerial candidate Makhdoom Javed Hashmi on Friday said the National Assembly Speaker had "insulted" democracy and parliament ... Former speakers criticize ruling LAHORE, Aug 27: Two former National Assembly speakers are of the view that incarcerated ARD president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi should have been produced in the house ... No evidence to link Benazir to Surrey house: PPP ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has said the London-based lawyer retained by the NAB, Mr Perry, spilled the beans when he admitted at a press conference in London last week ... BNP holds protests against operation in Balochistan ISLAMABAD Aug 27: MNA of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Abdur Rauf Mengal led a demonstration outside the local press club on Friday to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan protesting against the military operation ... Repeal of Hudood laws demanded KARACHI, Aug 27: A jury at a mock trial organized by various non-governmental organizations on Friday demanded that the Hudood Ordinance be repealed immediately. ... Govt 'agrees' to amend Bar Councils Act LAHORE, Aug 27: The federal government has reportedly agreed to introduce a 'mild amendment' to the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973. ... Families seek rights for detained army officers ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The families of the six detained military officers on Friday staged a peaceful demonstration demanding fundamental rights of their relatives imprisoned for nearly two years without the framing of charges. ... Govt approves windmill power project ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The government on Friday approved a 45-megawatt windmill power project for Karachi under a 400 megawatt wind energy programme to be implemented at a cost of $400 million. ... NWFP yet to get response from centre: Increased share in net hydel profit PESHAWAR, Aug 27: The federal government has not responded yet to a letter from the NWFP government seeking a written commitment in respect of increasing by Rs2 billion the province's net hydel profit share for the current financial year. ... Engineers' team leaves for Ivory Coast PESHAWAR, Aug 27: A contingent of the Pakistan Army engineers left for Ivory Coast on Friday to join the UN peacekeeping mission in the African country, said a press release. ... UK mission urged to expedite visa process GUJRAT, Aug 27: Residents of Gujrat and adjoining districts have expressed concern over slow process of issuance of visit visas by the UK mission in Islamabad. ... Tests for PhD fellowship ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced that the GRE (General) type test for indigenous 1,000 PhD fellowships out of 5,000 Fellowships Programme would be held on 29th August. ... Homage paid to Bulleh Shah KASUR, Aug 27: The peace process between Pakistan and India should be allowed to continue and obstacles in the way will be removed with the passage of time, according to Indian parliamentarian Dr Nirmala Desh Pande. ... Rally staged to protest against US attacks on holy sites RAWALPINDI, Aug 27: Hundreds of people gathered here at Liaquat Bagh to protest against the US bombing of the holy sites in Najaf. The protest demonstration had been organized by Jamiat Ulema Jafria (JUJ). ... Most Afghans held in raid freed ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: Assistant Commissioner, Saddar Circle, Saeed Ramzan, on Friday released majority of the people arrested on Thursday night from Afghan colony in sector H-11. ... Plea for rules to regulate river navigation PESHAWAR, Aug 27: Absence of laws to check growing navigation and boating in rivers for recreational and commercial purposes has increased the risk to human life in various parts of the NWFP. ...

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