09 October 2004 Saturday 23 Shaban 1425 Ruling parties' meeting held amid tight security ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: In the wake of latest terrorist incidents in Sialkot and Multan, the security administration has taken extra measures for the safety and protection of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. ... Uniform not the sole problem: ARD LAHORE, Oct 8: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy refused on Friday to wage a joint struggle in the company of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal against President Musharraf's uniform ... 'No contacts between ARD, MMA over uniform issue' ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said no contact has been made between the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and the ARD on the issue of launching movement against Gen Musharraf's uniform. ... Govt outwits opposition ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The government on Friday strategically disarmed the opposition from raising any noticeable protest in the House on the issue of President Gen Musharraf's uniform by introducing a motion to discuss law and order situation in the country. ... PPP criticizes govt for water shortage in Sindh KARACHI, Oct 8: The Pakistan People's Party coordination committee has expressed concern over government's failure to ensure due water share of Sindh from Indus and serious damage to agricultural sector in the province. ... PML grabs Tharparkar NA seat MITHI, Oct 8: Arbab Zakaullah of the Pakistan Muslim League obtained the highest number of votes in the by-election for NA-229 Tharparkar-I on Thursday. ... PPP alleges rigging HYDERABAD, Oct 8: People's Party Parliamentarians candidate Dr Mahesh Malani, who had boycotted the by-election for NA-229 Tharparkar-I, has alleged that the government candidate, Arbab Zakaullah, broke all the previous records of rigging ... NWFP PA condemns terrorist attacks: Treasury benches create quorum problem PESHAWAR, Oct 8: The Frontier assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the killings of innocent people in two incidents of terrorism ... New plans for rural areas uplift soon: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The government is initiating new programmes for the development of rural areas so that unemployment could be reduced and standard of living there could be improved. ... Demand for 'foolproof security' at dam site ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has informed the federal government that the law and order situation warranted 'foolproof security' at the Mirani Dam site ... 'Cooperation key to South Asia's development' LAHORE, Oct 8: The South Asian countries cannot resolve their economic and non-military problems without cooperating with each other. ... JCSC chief, VCOAS meet Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Oct 8: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee, Gen Ehsanul Haq, called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday after assuming charge of his office. ... NDF wants parliament to take all important decisions LAHORE, Oct 8: Leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF) at a meeting under the chairmanship of Air Marshal Asghar Khan on Friday proposed that all state institutions should work within the limits set by the constitution ... Gen Hamid given status of federal minister ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The federal government has granted the status of federal minister to Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Javed and asked him to continue working as Chief of Staff to the President of Pakistan. ... Sugarcane crushing by Nov-end: millers LAHORE, Oct 8: Crushing season would start by the end of November, said Pakistan Sugar Mills Association chief Zaka Ashraf here on Friday. ... A media retreat on the 'composite dialogue' ISLAMABAD: As President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly ... PAEC, health varsity sign accord to share resources ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, have inked an accord to share resources in conducting research. ... No increase in Haj fare by PIA KARACHI, Oct 8: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has not increased the fares under government Haj scheme or open scheme. ... 0.9m induced abortions in Pakistan every year ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Nearly 900,000 induced abortions occur every year in the country, mostly performed by unskilled and untrained professionals using primitive methods. ... Violation of cable TV rules alleged PESHAWAR, Oct 8: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) has failed to keep a check on cable TV operators who are not only showing banned satellite channels and obscene programmes ... Army's help for repair work recommended: Sukkur Barrage ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Ministry of Water and Power and the Sindh government have recommended implementation of the repair and rehabilitation work of Sukkur Barrage through the Pakistan Army. ... Speakers for safer transport system ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Speakers at a two-day conference stressed the need for improvement in communications infrastructure, and safer, cleaner, efficient and environment-friendly transport system. ... Minister for promoting tolerance, harmony ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Ghulam Sarwar Khan Friday said the present challenges could be faced by adopting a culture of love, brotherhood, tolerance and co-existence. ... Govt given 6 months to outlaw honour killings ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Women right activists, parliamentarians and civil society members on Friday staged a protest demonstration in the federal capital against honour killings and condemned the military rulers ... Move to hold conference on both sides of LoC SRINAGAR, Oct 8: A pro-independence veteran Kashmiri politician said on Friday he had revived his plan to hold an intra-Kashmir conference soon to ponder over ways for a peaceful solution of the 57-year-old dispute. ... Afghan vote-count to take 3 weeks PESHAWAR, Oct 8: Out of 16 candidates in the field, at least three can cause some damage to President Hamid Karzai's chances in the first-ever presidential election in the war-ravaged country. ... Campaigners of Karzai claim 80pc voter support PESHAWAR, Oct 8: Supporters of Afghan President Hamid Karzai have claimed overwhelming backing of refugee voters in Saturday's presidential elections. "We expect more than 80 per cent votes for President Karzai. ... 67,000 Afghan voters in Hazara HARIPUR, Oct 8: Some 67,000 Afghan refugee voters in the Hazara division would exercise their right of franchise in the first-ever Afghan presidential election on Saturday, sources in the International Organization for Migration said. ...

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