22 October 2004 Friday 07 Ramazan 1425 MMA should set agenda for talks, says Rashid RAWALPINDI, Oct 21: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Thursday the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) should set an agenda for talks if it wanted to hold negotiations with someone higher than the three-member cabinet committee formed by the speaker National Assembly. ... No JUI-F meeting on NSC held: MMA leader ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and deputy chief of the JUI-F, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, on Thursday said the MMA's central executive committee was the only policy-making body and all provincial organizations were bound to abide by its decisions. ... Uniform not a key issue, says Sherpao MARDAN, Oct 21: Interior Minister and president of his own faction of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, has expressed surprise over MMA's demand that President Pervez Musharraf must shed his uniform by Dec 31 ... PPP sees country in political crisis KARACHI, Oct 21: The PPP-P, Sindh, reviewed the political situation in the country and observed that it was passing through a grave political and constitutional crisis owing to 'anti-people and anti-democracy' policies being pursued by the government. ... PM for improvement in ministries working: Meeting with committee chairpersons ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday asked the newly elected chairpersons of the National Assembly standing committees to make efforts for bringing about visible improvement in the working of the ministries and departments assigned to them. ... Motion against state minister submitted: Conflicting figures on education grant ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: A breach of privilege motion was submitted against the State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday for giving what a member said were "conflicting figures" to the house. ... Nasir admits education standards declining: No recognition to IMDC ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Health Minister Nasir Khan on Thursday admitted deterioration in quality of education with special reference to medical profession ... Transfer of land to new GHQ: opposition moves motion ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The government has been asked to explain the transfer of precious state land costing almost Rs500 billion by CDA to the military authorities at throwaway prices ... Ijaz yet to tell NA about conference expenses ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq on Thursday did not tell the National Assembly about the actual expenditure incurred on the Ulema Convention held on February 18 in the capital. ... President's speech criticized ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday termed the speech of Gen Pervez Musharraf to a gathering of lawyers a mockery aimed at creating an impression to the people that lawyers' community supported the military rulers. ... Surrender or face assault, govt tells militants WANA, Oct 21: The government on Thursday warned local and foreign militants in the besieged Spinkay Raghzay area in South Waziristan tribal region to surrender or face a full-scale assault. ... WB missions coming to review uplift projects ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The World Bank is sending six missions to Pakistan to review development projects funded by the bank, including the Rs31.4 billion National Drainage Programme (NDA) which is experiencing delays. ... Judges pension case hearing adjourned ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned till Tuesday the case of retired high court judges seeking pension and other benefits after reaching the age of superannuation without completing five years on the post. ... Ministry criticized for not appointing NCSW members ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Chairperson Justice (retired) Majida Rizvi on Thursday criticized the Ministry of Women Development for not appointing members to the commission which was hindering its routine working. ... PBC, SCBA term lawyers gathering 'drama' ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association Thursday termed the lawyers gathering addressed by President Musharraf in Rawalpindi on Wednesday as a drama and mockery to give impression to the people that the lawyers were with the military junta. ... 14-day remand of Multan blast 'mastermind' MULTAN, Oct 21: The alleged mastermind behind the Multan car bomb blast was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on Thursday by the Anti-Terrorism Court. ... 'Aide clues led police to suspect' TOBA TEK SINGH, Oct 21: Irfan Ali, the alleged brain behind the car bomb blast in Multan that took place on Oct 7, had been arrested on the clues given to police by his right-hand man Amjad Ali Shah. ... Promotion issue of mid-career police officers reviewed ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The first meeting of the committee, constituted by the prime minister to consider hindrance in the promotions of mid-career police officers, was held here on Thursday. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao presided over the meeting. ... Identical petitions referred to CJP: Franchise transport system ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: A Supreme Court bench on Thursday referred identical petitions to the Chief Justice of Pakistan with a request to form a larger bench to hear cases assailing ordinance relating to the franchise transport system in Punjab ... Cotton growers in distress, says MNA ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The cotton growers in the Saraiki belt of Punjab and rural Sindh are in a state of extreme distress due to government's failure in procuring phutty this year ... Rs35m medical lab for Liaquat varsity okayed ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a scheme "Capacity of Building for Multipurpose Basic Medical Sciences Laboratory at Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro" worth Rs35 million. ... Steps being taken to improve environment ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The government is taking numerous measures to improve the environment and control pollution, Minister for Environment Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal said on Wednesday. ... Pharma body urged to increase export target ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Commerce Secretary Tasneem Noorani has urged the members of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) to increase their average share of current export of $50 million so as to get maximum share out of the global market of $401 billion. ... Two tankers taking fuel to Afghanistan damaged PESHAWAR, Oct 21: Two tankers transporting fuel to a US army base in Afghanistan were apparently blown up by saboteurs on the Kohat Road on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday night. ...

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