13 October 2004 Wednesday 27 Shaban 1425 Musharraf's removal must for national security: PML-N ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: PML-N Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooque has said the interests and security of Pakistan is totally unsafe in the hands of Gen Pervez Musharraf and his removal from power is imperative to ensure national security. ... Nawaz calls for decisive struggle against army rule LAHORE, Oct 12: Terming Oct 12 a black day in history, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has urged all political democratic forces to launch a decisive struggle against the army rule. ... PML-N recalls military coup LAHORE, Oct 12: The PML-N observed Tuesday as black day across the country to protest the military coup that ousted the party's government on Oct 12, 1999. Its workers pledged to continue struggle against the army ruler until he was thrown out of power. ... PML-N men term Oct 12 darkest day KARACHI, Oct 12: Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Tuesday staged a demonstration outside the Press Club to protest against what it called abrogation of the Constitution and overthrowing of a democratic government, five years back on Oct 12, by Gen Pervez Musharraf. ... ARD observes 'black day' against military rule KARACHI, Oct 12: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, Sindh chapter, leaders and workers observed black day in Karachi like other parts of the country on Tuesday by wearing black arm bands to protest against over throw of the elected government on Oct 12, 1999. ... PML-N, SC lawyers observe black day RAWALPINDI, Oct 12: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) observed Tuesday as a black day and held a protest rally against the overthrowing of its government five years ago. ... PML-N observes black day in Sindh HYDERABAD, Oct 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) observed black dayacross Sindh on Tuesday to observe fifth anniversary of overthrow of the elected government of Nawaz Sharif by the army generals. ... SHCBA slams Musharraf's stance on uniform KARACHI, Oct 12: The Sindh High Court Bar Association on Tuesday strongly condemned what it called attempts to continue "unconstitutional usurpation of power" and to keep the organs of state under the control of a person in uniform. ... Opposition urged to help fight terrorism QUETTA, Oct 12: Opposition members in the provincial assembly on Tuesday expressed concern over the poor law and order situation in the province and urged the Balochistan High Court to take notice of law-enforcement agencies' excesses against political activists. ... Altaf for relief to cooperative scam victims KARACHI, Oct 12: The London-based founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, on Tuesday demanded of the president and the prime minister to provide relief to those who were cheated by the cooperative companies in Sindh. ... Centrality of Kashmir key to success of dialogue: MMA ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Deputy Secretary General of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Liaqat Baloch says delay in settlement of contentious issues between Pakistan and India was creating frustration. ... PIA clarifies report on CSA appointment KARACHI, Oct 12: The Pakistan International Airlines has issued the following statement in response to a report published in the Oct 10 issue of Dawn, headlined 'Higher commission may bring huge losses to PIA': ... S.Arabia seeks technology transfer in defence sector: Super Mushak handing over ceremony held ATTOCK, Oct 12: Saudi Arabia is looking forward to developing and strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in defence sector through transfer of technology and exchange of expertise. ... Hostage issue: China says Pakistan doing its best BEIJING, Oct 12: A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Office, Zhang Qiyue, said here on Tuesday that China was in close contact with Pakistan to ensure safe release of its two engineers. ... Change in US policy after polls ruled out PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The Lieutenant-governor of Dacota state of the United States, Ms Carole Hillard, has ruled out any possibility of a change in US policy on Pakistan after the November presidential elections.... Horticulture, trade hit by blockade: Military operation in Waziristan PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The prolonged military operation in South Waziristan tribal region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) has affected horticulture. ... British team keen to invest in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The visiting British trade mission has shown interest in investing in telecom, infrastructure, solar energy, hotel industry and other small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. ... $4.5m UNDP aid for women councillors' training ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The Ministry of Women Development and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday signed a $4.5 million grant aid programme entitled "Women's Political School (WPS)" here. ... Expats' role in Pak-UK ties hailed ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Pakistanis living in the United Kingdom can play a vital role in enhancing the relations between the two countries. This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while talking to House of Commons Member Mohammad Sarwar who called on him here on Tuesday. ... ANP warns govt against Kalabagh dam PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The Awami National Party (ANP) has warned the federal government against the construction of a large dam at Kalabagh, saying it would result in the break-up of the country as the people of smaller provinces would never let this 'deadly' project be executed at any cost. ... Water shortage is artificial: PPP DADU, Oct 12: People's Party Parliamentarians provincial president Qaim Ali Shah has alleged that the government has created an artificial shortage of water in Sindh to force its people to accept the Kalabagh dam project. ... Media asked not to glorify terrorists PESHAWAR, Oct 12: Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday asked the media to avoid portraying terrorists as heroes of Islam and Pakistan, saying it went against national interests. ... PTCL workers' strike termed illegal ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Parliamentary secretary for information technology and telecommunications Riffat Javed on Tuesday told the National Assembly that the ongoing strike by Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) employees for acceptance of their demands was "illegal and unjustified." ... Water shortage for Rabi crop reduce to 42pc ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Water shortage for Rabi crop fell from 56 per cent to 44 per cent, reducing the fears of lessor yield of wheat, grams and rapeseed. This was informed in a meeting which was presided over by Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi here on Tuesday. ... Public hearing for radio licences KARACHI, Oct 12: A public hearing for granting licences for satellite television channels and FM radio stations was held on Tuesday at Pemra's regional office. ... Wapda wants free land for canal project ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The Water and Power Development Authority has asked the centre to direct Sindh not to demand payment for the government land required for the Rainee canal project. ... 334 govt houses still illegally occupied, Senate body told ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: About 434 government houses, quarters and flats are still under illegal occupation, the Senate standing committee on works, environment and urban affairs was informed on Tuesday. ... Rocca due on Saturday ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca will be arriving here over the weekend on a four-day official visit for bilateral consultations, well-placed diplomatic sources told Dawn on Tuesday. ... CJ criticizes police performance ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, on Tuesday scolded police, observing that it was incapable of delivering the good to the masses and that its role had always been dissatisfactory in checking crime rate and maintaining law and order in the country. ... 100 laws being examined to reform system: Wasi LAHORE, Oct 12: Federal Law, Justice and Human Rights Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Wasi Zafar has said around 100 federal and provincial laws and more than 60 reports on a number of legislations are being examined by his ministry to reform the legal and judicial system for the benefit of society and the litigants. ... Ittefaq units' sate at low price deplored LAHORE, Oct 12: The former ruling Sharif family has opposed in the Lahore High Court the sale of four industrial units of the Ittefaq Group of Industries on the plea that they could fetch a higher price if they were sold in a proper manner. ... Teachers deserve better pay: minister KARACHI, Oct 12: The Federal Minister for Education, Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, on Tuesday said he was working on restructuring the basic pay scale of primary teachers to BPS-14, so that competent people with an urge for a better career join the teaching profession. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004