01 November 2004 Monday 17 Ramazan 1425 Uniform bill: Afgan gives constitutional justification ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The government gave constitutional justifications for President Gen Musharraf to hold two offices, as it rebutted the counter-claims of the opposition in the Senate on Saturday. ... PPP opposes Musharraf's options as premature ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has rejected as baseless and contrary to facts the remarks of Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri that the PPP was opposed to defusing tensions with India through dialogue. ... Time not ripe for Kashmir accord, says ex-governor LAHORE, Oct 31: Former Punjab governor Shahid Hamid said on Sunday the Kashmir issue should be put on the back burner. Time was not ripe for the resolution of the issue, he said in his presidential remarks at a seminar on India-Pakistan relations and the role of the print media. ... Security beefed up ahead of Mian Sharif's burial: Body to be flown directly to Raiwind LAHORE, Oct 31: The government has made all arrangements for transporting the body of Mian Sharif directly to Raiwind by a helicopter as soon as a PIA flight carrying the body lands at the airport ... PML-N plans three-day mourning in Sindh KARACHI, Oct 31: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Sindh, has announced three-day mourning for Mian Mohammad Sharif during which Quran khwani would be held at all provincial and district offices of the party. ... Sindh PML-N condoles death of Mian Sharif MIRPURKHAS, Oct 31: The Sindh Pakistan Muslim League-N has expressed grief over the death of Mian Mohammad Sharif, father of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. ... Qazi calls on Hamza Shahbaz LAHORE, Oct 31: Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad on Sunday visited Hamza Shahbaz in Model Town to condole with him on the demise of his grandfather, Mian Sharif. Lahore Jamaat amir Hafiz Salman Butt also accompanied him. ... Families of missing Muttahida men assured of help KARACHI, Oct 31: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday assured families of the 28 missing supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that his government would make every possible effort to locate the missing people. ... Baloch nationalists discuss strategy QUETTA, Oct 31: An alliance of four Baloch parties discussed its strategy on Sunday to oppose establishment of cantonments in the province and projects it deems anti-Baloch. ... 'Militants' held in special drive LAHORE, Oct 31: Law-enforcement agencies have picked up around two dozen people on suspicion of their involvement in sectarian militancy in a drive started last week in the province, especially southern Punjab, it was learnt on Sunday. ... Tribesmen call for cautious approach PESHAWAR, Oct 31: Elders of the Mehsud tribe have said that the military should adopt a cautious approach for moving troops to forward positions in the troubled South Waziristan Agency against the backdrop of the killing of tribal volunteers during a search operation on Oct 26. ... 23 flights delayed in two months: Inefficiency of immigration staff ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: As many as 23 international flights were delayed from August to mid-October due to inexperienced staff deployed at immigration counters in Islamabad airport, sources told Dawn. ... Major skill development drive soon, says PM KARACHI, Oct 31: The government would soon launch a big drive for bridging the skills gap through public-private sectors partnership and augmenting the human capabilities. ... Government and Nepra differ on power reforms ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Pakistan's power sector is heading once again to a severe crisis with possible far-reaching consequences for both the economic growth and investor confidence owing mainly to contradictory positions taken by the government ... Joint efforts in herbal medicines stressed: Pakistan-China workshop KARACHI, Oct 31: A six-day "Pak-China workshop on Pharmacology and Standardization of Herbal Medicines" was jointly organized by the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS) ... ADB pledges $350m for access to justice plan KARACHI, Oct 31: A three-year 'Access to Justice Programme', with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, will be implemented in the country at a cost of over $350 million. ... UN adviser urges 'bold' steps on Kashmir NEW DELHI, Oct 31: A senior UN official has said that converting the Line of Control into an international border could not be a substitute of the UN resolution on Jammu and Kashmir, the United News of India said on Sunday. ... Indira wanted a stable Pakistan, says Natwar NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi had no intention to invade West Pakistan after the fall of Dhaka in 1971 and had sought to work for a stable Pakistan after signing the Shimla Agreement in 1972 ... US policies foster hatred, says report SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 31: US policies in Pakistan are fostering suspicion and hatred against America, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday in a special report about Pakistan. ... Hostage killing condemned ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Pakistan has strongly condemned the killing of a Japanese hostage in Iraq. In a statement issued here on Sunday, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said ...

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