20 September 2004 Monday 04 Shaban 1425 Qazi hopeful of ARD backing on uniform SIALKOT, Sept 19: JI Amir Qazi Husain Ahmad has said that the MMA is in close contact with the ARD leadership asking it to shun political differences and join the Majlis over the uniform issue. ... MMA threatens countrywide protest drive: Uniform issue TAXILA, Sept 19: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would launch a countrywide protest movement if President Gen Pervez Musharraf did not quit the office of army chief till December 31. ... People want Musharraf in uniform: Durrani LAHORE, Sept 19: It is in the national interest that President Pervez Musharraf retains the COAS office as it will ensure smooth functioning and stability of the democratic setup. ... Opposition hopeful of defeating resolution QUETTA, Sept 19: The opposition in the Balochistan Assembly has decided to oppose a resolution expected to be tabled by the Pakistan Muslim League urging President Gen Pervez Musharraf to retain the post of army chief after Dec 31 ... Fazl lashes out at govt's policies QUETTA, Sept 19: The leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said on Sunday that President Gen Pervez Musharraf's policies about his military post and the situation in Wana were pushing the country towards a crisis. ... ARD leaders meet in Quetta today QUETTA, Sept 19: Top leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy will meet here on Monday to discuss domestic and international issues and express solidarity with the people of Balochistan. ... Aziz urges MPs to focus on development ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday asked parliamentarians to focus on the development of their constituencies. Talking to parliamentarians who called on him and discussed the development projects of their areas ... PPP protests against conviction of Gilani NAWABSHAH, Sept 19: Activists of the People's Party Parliamentarians took out a procession here on Sunday in protest against the conviction of party leader Yousuf Raza Gilani. ... Notice issued in Ghous case KARACHI, Sept 19: An Accountability Court issued notice to the prosecution on an application of the defence counsel for Syed Ghous Ali Shah, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and former defence minister, in a corruption reference. ... Sherpao calls for talks to settle Wana issue PESHAWAR, Sept 19: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has stressed the need for a settlement of the Wana issue through dialogue and urged all political parities to forge unity for finding a negotiated solution to this issue. ... NWFP govt opposed to operation in Fata: CM BANNU, Sept 19: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani has said that the Frontier government is against the military operation in tribal areas and is of the view that all issues should be resolved through dialogue and in accordance with tribal customs and traditions. ... JSMM criticizes water projects, army operation HYDERABAD, Sept 19: Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz activists marched from Pathan Colony to the press club here on Sunday where they blocked the road for two hours in protest against Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal projects and the army operation in Balochistan. ... Ejaz seeks varsity status for Jamia Darul Uloom KARACHI, Sept 19: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Ejazul Haq has recommended that Jamia Darul Uloom, Korangi, should be given university status, where each faculty functioned in a full-fledged manner. ... PA enacted 22 laws so far: Pervaiz LAHORE, Sept 19: The Punjab Assembly has so far enacted 22 laws, making the entire administrative machinery active for their effective implementation. ... Issuance of visas discussed with UK MPs: Speaker KARACHI, Sept 19: Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah has said that the matter of issuance of British visas from the UK Consulate at Karachi has been taken up with the British parliamentary delegation ... ANP sees no possibility of Kashmir settlement LAHORE, Sept 19: The Awami National Party (ANP) does not see possibility of a solution to the Kashmir issue as long as the present political set-up exists in Pakistan and India, despite claims of both the governments to the contrary. ... Appointment of ulema as judges in Pata proposed PESHAWAR, Sept 19: A law reforms commission constituted by the NWFP government has proposed appointment of clerics as judges in the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) by amending the Nifaz-i-Nizam-i-Adal regulations, 1999, in vogue in these areas. ... 151 states pledge to tackle social security issues BEIJING, Sept 19: Delegates from Pakistan, China and 149 other countries who attended the 28th general assembly session of International Social Security Association held here ... More vocational schools to be set up: minister ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal has said the number of vocational schools would be further increased across the country to eradicate poverty. ... Farm subsidies term vital for Pakistan after WTO QUETTA, Sept 19: The government must follow rich countries' strategy on providing farming subsidies enabling local farmers to compete with the developed states in agriculture products after the implementation of the WTO in December 2004. ... Rs2bn to be released for water project ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: A government committee has decided to transfer funds amounting to Rs2 billion to speed up work on a project for lining 86,003 watercourses. ... US police investigate attack on 4 Pakistanis SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 19: Michigan state police are investigating an assault on four Pakistani doctors by three men at a golf club, press reports said. One of the doctors was injured seriously and taken to a hospital. ... UNHCR ends work in four camps ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday that the four camps set up on Balochistan's border to provide emergency shelter to refugees fleeing the 2001 war in Afghanistan were nearly empty and it had ended assistance there. ... Battle for custody of children rages PESHAWAR, Sept 19: A British national of Pakistani origin is locked in a legal battle with his former Indian wife over the custody of their two children. ...

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