09 December 2004 Thursday 26 Shawwal 1425 MMA, ARD holding talks to evolve joint strategy: Fahim SUKKUR, Dec 8: People's Party Parliamentarians president Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that talks are under way between the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy to evolve a joint strategy ... Hashmi, Gillani have no regrets ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and former National Assembly speaker Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, presently serving sentence in Adiyala Jail, have no regrets whatsoever over the "crimes" they have committed. ... JUP against meetings with govt officials LAHORE, Dec 8: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, a component of the six-party MMA, fears that meetings of the alliance leaders with government officials may hurt the ongoing protest drive against the government. ... Opposition files motion in Senate on Dr Khan issue ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Four opposition members have submitted an adjournment motion to the Senate Secretariat to discuss a report of the US State Department declaring Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan a 'traitor'. ... Benazir concerned over situation in Balochistan ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, taking notice of the preliminary statement of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan following its trip to Balochistan, has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating condition in the province. ... ANP activists urged to be ready for general elections SWABI, Dec 8: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Azam Khan Hoti has said that 2005 is the year of general elections. Speaking to party workers here on Tuesday, he urged them to get prepared for the elections. ... Attacks not to deter religious parties: JI KARACHI, Dec 8: Religious parties cannot be overawed by the ransacking of their offices, violence and victimization. From the MMA platform the parties would continue their struggle against secularism, trampling of the constitution and the president's insistence to continue holding the office of the COAS.... Opposition welcomes NFC member's resignation: Minister endorses Lodhi's views KARACHI, Dec 8: Sindh Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad has said that the resignation of Mr A. K. Lodhi as the private member of the National Finance Commission from Sindh is not going to create any crisis. ... 'Sindh to take up NFC award issue with PM' HYDERABAD, Dec 8: Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said the Sindh finance minister is preparing the case of Sindh for the National Finance Commission award which will be taken up with the prime minister. ... Ministries' work assessment begins ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Ministers and secretaries in Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's cabinet face the prospect of being fined or even sacked if they fail to achieve the targets set for them. ... PM stresses greater focus on quality education HASSANABDAL, Dec 8: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said the country was faced with multitude challenges and called for greater focus on improvement in quality of education ... Senators briefed on Balochistan projects ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Balochistan is a potential economic hub of Pakistan and efforts are under way to bring less developed areas of the province on a par with other parts of the country. ... US envoy says jobs creation on agenda QUETTA, Dec 8: United States Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker said on Wednesday that creation of employment opportunities and helping small-scale farmers were important objectives of his country in Balochistan and rural Sindh. ... SC urged to declare assent to bill invalid ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: A leader of the Communist Party of Pakistan on Wednesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court requesting it to declare invalid the assent to the dual-office bill by Acting President Mohammedmian Soomro ... Law point in plea against sessions judge's decision LAHORE, Dec 8: The Federal Shariat Court is examining a law point as to what is the stage of a case that allows the filing of an application for acquittal under the Criminal Procedure Code. ... Public lost Rs377m in PIA shares, Senate told ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Over 57,000 shareholders of Pakistan International Airlines have suffered a loss of Rs377 million during the past six months after its share price declined by around 33 per cent. ... PIA to increase flights to Turkey ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to increase number of flights between the two countries in an effort to strengthen the aviation links. ... Support for Shigar Fort project KARACHI, Dec 8: The American Express Foundation announced a grant of $25,000 to the United Way International to support the Shigar Fort, a project of the Aga Khan Cultural Service, Pakistan (AKCS,P). ... Ulema council to be set up, says minister PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain has said that the government is planning to set up a National Council of Ulema (religious scholars) to help create religious harmony ... Special funds for social sector planned ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The federal government has decided to allocate 'special funds' for water, health and environment sectors during the current fiscal year to help improve declining socio-economic conditions in the provinces. ... Training of police officers begins: Community policing RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: The US police experts have started training Pakistani police officers in community policing, an official source said. ... Call for full-fledged legal system in Fata: Seminar on situation in tribal areas PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Experts at a seminar here observed that lack of political clarity in the ongoing military operation in the South Waziristan Agency had affected its strategic effectiveness. ... Illegal sale of satellite phones continues: Connections being bought from Dubai PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Law-enforcement agencies have failed to stop illegal sale of satellite telephone connections in the country, which has caused losses of millions of rupees to the Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL). ... Call to build hydel, thermal power plants LAHORE, Dec 8: The government has been urged to build new hydel and thermal power houses in public sectors on war-footing to generate cheap electricity for industry and agriculture to face the globalization challenge next year. ... Collective approach to meet environmental challenges needed ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: In our mad lust for accumulating power and wealth, we are killing each other both at individual and national level without any regard for our future generations, Federal Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal said here on Wednesday. ... Call for role of Kashmiris in peace process PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Speakers at a seminar on Kashmir have underlined the need for withdrawing troops by both Pakistan and India from territories under their control to facilitate an early solution of the dispute. ... 7 million diabetics in Pakistan - seminar - World Diabetes Day KARACHI, Dec 8: Pakistan is facing an alarming rise in diabetes with about 30 per cent of local children obese and 14.2 per cent of below 40 years population at threshold of being inflicted with Diabetes Mellitus Type-II in the next few years. ... ICCS status as WHO centre extended KARACHI, Dec 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended the status of the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS), University of Karachi as a 'WHO Collaborating Centre for Pesticide Analysis' for another four years. ...

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