26 September 2004 Sunday 10 Shaban 1425 Withdrawal of troops sought before talks WANA, Sept 25: Tribal militants battling security forces in South Waziristan have demanded return of the military to peace-time positions in order to restore confidence between the two sides, sources said. ... Election report presented ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan on Saturday called on the acting president and chairman of the Senate, Mohammadmian Soomro, and presented him the report on general elections 2002. ... No positive response from India: Qayyum RIYADH, Sept 25: Despite various concessions from Pakistan, there has not been any significant positive response from India on the Kashmir issue and this is a cause of concern, said veteran Kashmiri leader Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan soon after Musharraf-Manmohan meeting in New York. ... Singh links dialogue to 'cross-border terrorism' NEW YORK, Sept 25: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday evening that he had made it clear to President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan has to stop 'cross border' terrorism to move ahead on the dialogue between the two nations. ... Changes to various laws being finalized FAISALABAD, Sept 25: Federal Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar has said that centuries old civil and criminal procedures of law would be updated as per needs of the day and the task would be achieved within a month. ... Code of conduct: No speech against army in bypoll GUJRANWALA, Sept 25: The Election Commission on Saturday issued a code of conduct for by-election to constituency PP-93. ... PPP to boycott bypoll in Tharparkar ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has decided to boycott Oct 7 by-election on a National Assembly seat in Tharparkar to protest against the alleged partial attitude of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Irshad Hassan Khan. ... Coal gasification plant to be set up in Bhakkar ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The government has finalized arrangements to set up a coal gasification plant which will produce three million cubic feet (MMCF) of gas per day by consuming 250 tons of coal daily. ... Shortage of green books hamper passport issuance MULTAN, Sept 25: Passport seekers in this part of the country are facing enormous problems, as the regional passport offices are finding it difficult to entertain all applications well in time due to the shortage of green books. ... Task force on Congo fever constituted ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The government on Saturday set up a task force comprising officials of the National Institute of Health and Agriculture and Livestock Departments to prevent the outbreak of the suspected Congo fever. ... Work on Sukkur Barrage resumes SUKKUR, Sept 25: Work to fill a ditch that has occurred under the span 1 and 2 of the Sukkur Barrage was again resumed on Saturday and will continue for about 84 hours. ... Revival of KCR: PR agrees to city govt's demand for right of way KARACHI, Sept 25: The Pakistan Railway is ready to give the city government the required right of way and technical assistance to operate the Karachi Circular Railway. ... Rs697m budgetary proposals for Dow varsity approved KARACHI, Sept 25: The Dow University of Health Sciences syndicate in its first ever meeting approved the budgetary proposals costing Rs697 million for the year 2004-05. ... Investment in research sought for progress KARACHI, Sept 25: Scientists and engineers should create trust in the private sector in order to make progress in research and development. ... Khokhrapar tracks' repair to cost Rs2.5bn KARACHI, Sept 25: Renovation of the Khokhrapar tracks requires funds of Rs2.5 billion and its feasibility has been sent to the federal government for approval, Minister for Railways Mian Shamim Haider said here on Saturday. ... ANP calls for end to Wana operation KARACHI, Sept 25: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on Thursday called for an immediate end to the operation in Wana. ... Arbab meets Pir Pagara KARACHI, Sept 25: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim called on PML-F leaderPir Saheb Pagara at Kingri House on Saturday. ... Asif Zardari demands fresh polls LAHORE, Sept 25: Mr Asif Ali Zardari, spouse of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, demanded on Saturday fresh elections in the country and resignation of Gen Musharraf as army chief. ... Case against Zardari Counsel fail to show up at Kot Lakhpat Jail LAHORE, Sept 25: An anti-narcotics court on Saturday took serious view of the absence of the defence of Asif Al Zardari, who is facing drug trafficking charges, and directed them to make sure that they appeared on Oct 9 when the case would be heard again. ... Senate subcommittee to report on gangrape case ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The Senate Committee on Human Rights on Saturday decided to set up a sub-committee of three senators to visit Multan and report on an incident of gangrape in Jalalpur in April ... New tourism policy in 3 months, NA told ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: The National Assembly was on Friday informed that a new tourism policy would be announced within three months to take the tourism sector to industry level. ... Indians for not involving third party in Kashmir issue LAHORE, Sept 25: Senior Indian jurists on Saturday pleaded with India and Pakistan to first reach an understanding on a resolution of he Kashmir conflict and then involve the Kashmiri leadership as the third party to the dispute. ...

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