10 December 2004 Friday 27 Shawwal 1425 President, PM call for dispute resolution, tolerance ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have called for finding solution to major disputes and developing a culture of tolerance which, they said, was vital for peace and security. ... Ministers' absence issue again raised in Senate ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The treasury and opposition members in the Senate on Thursday again raised the issue of ministers' absence and their "non-serious attitude" during the parliamentary proceedings ... PML-N sees better days ahead LAHORE, Dec 9: Nawaz Sharif and his family complete their fourth year in exile on Friday, with no shift visible in the government's policy towards them despite realization that there is a need for national reconciliation. ... 'Reconciliation talks ploy to consolidate power' ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Chief Coordinator of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal has said the government has launched a propaganda campaign regarding national reconciliation whereas its real agenda was "consolidation and perpetuation of power". ... PML victory in by-polls to ensure progress: PM ISLAMABAD Dec 9: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the victory of the PML and its allies in the upcoming by-polls for NA-35 (Malakand) will usher in an era of progress and prosperity in the area ... 'Balochistan, NWFP must quit NFC body' QUETTA, Dec 9: Members of the NFC committee from Balochistan and the NWFP must resign to protest against the federal government's policy of protecting the interests of a large province, says Kachkol Ali Baloch, leader of opposition in the provincial assembly. ... Zardari visits Bhit Shah HYDERABAD, Dec 9: Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Bhitshah on his way to Karachi on Thursday afternoon to pay homage to Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. ... NAB case against Mushahid closed, says spokesman ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The National Accountability Bureau on Thursday said it discreetly probed complaints of misuse of authority against Senator Mushahid Hussain but closed investigations after finding no substance in the matter. ... Youth groups vow to defend two-nation theory KARACHI, Dec 9: The youth wings of various religious and political parties have condemned critical remarks made against the two-nation theory and vowed to hold seminars, rallies and demonstrations in the coming days ... Allegations against Punjab, army rejected QUETTA, Dec 9: Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has rejected allegations that Punjab and the army were exploiting the resources of Balochistan and said that the big province had no interest in the resources of this province. ... Soft attitude foments corruption, says Ibad KARACHI, Dec 9: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that present government is striving hard to provide for complete transparency and good governance in all government departments. ... Terrorists on the run: Kohat GOC - 'Osama's whereabouts unknown' KOHAT, Dec 9: A military commander said here on Thursday there was no indication about the presence of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his lieutenant Aiman Al-Zawahiri in the South Waziristan tribal region. ... Ambassador rules out US mediation on Kashmir LAHORE, Dec 9: The United States can be helpful, from time to time, in advancing the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India for the settlement of their outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute ... US embassy opens legal discovery centre project ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The US embassy has launched the American Legal Discovery Centre project to equip seven law libraries in Pakistan with access to the latest legal information ... EU helping country's integration into world economy: official ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The European Union is providing an assistance to facilitate Pakistan's integration into the world economy through the Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) programme. ... Power producers to be offered new package ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The government has decided in principle to offer a new incentives package soon to independent power producers (IPPs) by allowing them dual-fuel projects ... Road safety plan being formulated RAWALPINDI, Dec 9: The government will formulate a five-year road safety plan to minimize the number of accidents, Federal Communications Secretary Iftikhar Rashid said here on Thursday. ... Minister briefed on delay in road project ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Communications Minister Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui presided over a meeting to review the technical matters concerning 'Satra (17) meel-Lower Topa' section of the Islamabad-Muzaffarabad highway. ... Wapda workers want end to privatization PESHAWAR, Dec 9: The Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union has demanded immediate removal of Pesco's finance director for what the union alleged his involvement in corruption and his anti-worker attitude. ... Pakistan to participate in 'Forum for Future' process ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Pakistan is all set to participate in the first meeting of G-8 Broader Middle East and North Africa Forum for Future in Morocco this week. ... Most HR violations committed by police - Home minister tells seminar KARACHI, Dec 9: Although Pakistan has signed almost all the international conventions and treaties relating to human rights, the situation in the country is far from being ideal. ... 30m people living below poverty line, says Attiya ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: More than 30 million people in Pakistan are living below poverty line and earn less than Rs670 per month, former federal minister Dr Attiya Inayatullah said here on Thursday. ... Pakistan ranked 46th in Unicef report LAHORE, Dec 9: Unicef on Thursday launched its annual report on state of the world's children for 2005 which revealed that over half of them were being robbed of their childhood by poverty, armed conflicts and AIDS. ... WB calls for accelerating AIDS control programme KARACHI, Dec 9: A review mission of the World Bank expressing satisfaction over the performance of Sindh Health Department emphasized on accelerating the ongoing Enhanced HIV/AIDS Control Programme ... 'Aids, poverty hit 1bn children' ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Over half of the world's children population, which is over one billion, is being robbed of their childhood by conflict, Aids and poverty. ... Bronze mortar on display at museum KARACHI, Dec 9: An 800-year-old inscribed bronze mortar has been selected as the object of the month by the National Museum. A press release says: "The three most common metals used by Muslim artists are copper and its chief derivates, bronze and brass. ...

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