25 September 2004 Saturday 09 Shaban 1425 PM holds 'court' during NA session ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz continued to meet legislators in the National Assembly on Friday as the Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, on two different occasions directed the members to maintain order in the House. ... PML asks Musharraf to retain uniform: First-ever workers' convention FAISALABAD, Sept 24: The first-ever PML workers' convention held here on Friday night passed a resolution asking President Pervez Musharraf to retain offices of COAS and president. ... MMA refuses to apologize on 17th Amendment LAHORE, Sept 24: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmed on Friday turned down calls for the religious alliance to apologize to the nation for its role in the adoption of the 17th constitutional Amendment ... Imran to launch anti-Musharraf drive LAHORE, Sept 24: Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan rejected on Friday Gen Pervaiz Musharraf's intentions to retain offices of both the president and the chief of the army staff, and announced that the party would start a campaign against him from Sept 26. ... Opposition lawyers form body on HR, rule of law ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The opposition lawyers in the Senate have formed a special committee to highlight the violations of human rights, Constitution and laws taking place in the country in an effective manner. ... Deputy speaker urged not to convene session: MMA, opposition in fresh row PESHAWAR, Sept 24: Leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal have cautioned the Deputy Speaker Ikram Ullah Shahid against convening a session of the provincial assembly before its next scheduled sitting in the absence of the speaker. ... Members' detention perturbs opposition KARACHI, Sept 24: The opposition in Sindh assembly on Friday objected to the alleged demolition of certain old villages in Gadap town and sale of its land to builders. ... MMA supreme council meets today QUETTA, Sept 24: The Supreme Council of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will meet here on Saturday, a spokesman for the religious alliance, Balochistan Akhundzada Abdul Mateen, said here on Friday. ... Talks urged to settle Waziristan issue PESHAWAR, Sept 24: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said on Friday that the issue of president's uniform would be resolved according to the decision taken under the 17th constitutional amendment. ... BNP leader boycotts Senate proceedings ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: A treasury member on Friday staged a walk-out boycotting the proceedings of the Senate to protest against formation of a joint parliamentary committee on the issues of Balochistan. ... Govt asked to hold talks with Baloch leaders KARACHI, Sept 24: The PML-N has said that instead of resorting to the use of brute force in Balochistan, the government should hold meaningful dialogue with Baloch leaders to acquaint itself with the genuine grievances of Balochistan people. ... 'Pakistan capable of achieving UN Millennium goals' ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The government's chief economist affirms that Pakistan has the capacity to achieve UN Millennium Development goals. "They are doable," Chief Economist Pervez Tahir said in a lecture at the Pakistan Social Sciences Forum here on Friday. ... Call to abolish jirga, panchayat systems ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Eminent constitutional expert and politician Abid Hassan Minto on Friday said the tribal jirga and panchayat systems existed due to the prevailing outdated socio-economic system in the country. ... Peshawar Bar panel defends Wana report PESHAWAR, Sept 24: A fact-finding commission of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association on Friday asked the NWFP Governor's Secretariat (Fata) to allow the commission to visit South Waziristan. ... Bureaucracy accused of sabotaging democracy ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The angry legislators on Friday accused the bureaucracy for sabotaging the democratic institutions and holding them in contempt. ... Certification authority formed ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The Ministry of Information Technology, in line with the National IT Policy and the Electronic Transactions Ordinance 2002, has set up Accreditation Council for Certificate Authorities (CAs). ... Ministers accused of hiding information from senators ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Senators on Friday again gave a tough time to the ministers during the question-hour session and accused them of giving incomplete replies and intentionally hiding information. ... ISI posts no longer under FPSC purview ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: An amendment to the Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Act, 2004, passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, has empowered the directorate of the Inter Services Intelligence to fill various posts directly ... NAB offers 'lucrative deal' to FIA men LAHORE, Sept 24: The National Accountability Bureau on Friday presented a fresh 'lucrative package' for the Federal Investigation Agency employees to lure them into joining the bureau. ... Sales tax on late payment surcharge waived ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has excluded gas companies and the PTCL from collecting sales tax on late payment surcharge accrued due to late payment of utility bills by consumers. ... KESC consumers get relief - Electricity tariff reduced KARACHI, Sept 24: The federal water and power ministry has announced a relief package for KESC consumers, offering a reduction in tariff ranging from 10 paisa per kilowatt to 25 paisa per unit. ... 'Army to keep peace in border areas': Afghan presidential election QUETTA, Sept 24: Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has said that Pakistan had deployed army along its western border to ensure security during the presidential election in Afghanistan. ... Durrani opens IT competition SWABI, Sept 24: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the Muslim world can compete with the West if it concentrates on science and technology. ... Indian jurists' plea for cut in defence budgets LAHORE, Sept 24: A majority of the Indian jurists on a visit here on Friday forced the plea that Pakistan and India should substantially cut their defence budgets to divert additional resources to health ...

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