11 December 2004 Saturday 28 Shawwal 1425 MMA, ARD to mount pressure on Musharraf LAHORE, Dec 10: The Supreme Council of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is scheduled to meet in Lahore on Sunday (Dec 12) to assess the impact of its two public meetings held in Karachi and Multan ... Musharraf asked to quit KARACHI, Dec 10: The Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi, expressing concern over the political situation and the constitutional crisis in the country, has demanded that in order to steer the country out of catastrophe ... MMA allowed to hold rally on 19th RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: The district government has allowed the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to hold a public meeting at Liaquat Bagh on December 19, sources said. ... Arbab Rahim rules out national govt DADU, Dec 10: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said no national government is being formed either at the federal or provincial level and criticized Asif Ali Zardari for spreading such rumours. ... Asif asks Arbab to step down KARACHI, Dec 10: PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari on Friday demanded resignation of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim for expressing his inability to ensure his (Mr Zardari's) security ... PPP condemns US envoy's remarks LAHORE, Dec 10: Punjab PPP Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry has taken exception to US ambassador's reported remarks that elections will be held in 2007. ... PPP legislator opposes Kalabagh dam ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: People's Party Parliamentarians' MPA Humera Hamid Alwani here on Friday opposed construction of the Kalabagh dam. ... PML-N sees general elections next year KARACHI, Dec 10: The PML-N has said that 2005 would be the year of elections not only for local bodies but also for national and provincial assemblies, and has directed the party cadre to make preparations for contesting the polls. ... Alliances' call rejected, says PML leader LAHORE, Dec 10: The ruling PML claims that the people have rejected the ARD and MMA calls, and they are not prepared to trust the two alliances for their shifting stands on various issues. ... Imran links peace to justice LAHORE, Dec 10: Peace could not prevail anywhere in the world without justice, says Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan. ... More steps needed to protect rights ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan is signatory to 19 international laws related to protection of human rights, but there is a need to implement them in letter and spirit. ... Mushahid, NAB back to square one again ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: In a battle to salvage their reputations, Senator Mushahid Hussain and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have pitted themselves against each other with claims and counter-claims. ... Mumtaz for transfer of powers to provinces HYDERABAD, Dec 10: Sindh National Front chief Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has said the system of centralization of powers should be changed and all powers should be transferred to the provinces to restore true democracy in the country. ... Pre-poll row over levy commander PESHAWAR, Dec 10: A row has been brewing for some time between NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah and Chief Minister Akram Durrani over the role of the levy commandant ... Jamali says blast aimed to subvert progress QUETTA, Dec 10: Former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has condemned the Quetta bomb blast and said such subversive acts would affect the federal government's development programmes in the province. ... Role for Kashmiris in peace process urged MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 10: The AJK Legislative Assembly on Friday praised the peace efforts undertaken by Islamabad and New Delhi but, at the same time, called for resolution of the Kashmir issue on the basis of United Nations resolutions. ... AJK leader urges broad people-to-people contact MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 10: Former AJK finance minister and ruling Muslim Conference secretary-general Shah Ghulam Qadir on Thursday strongly supported people-to-people contact between the divided parts of the Himalayan region ... Govt urged to stick to UN resolutions on Kashmir KARACHI, Dec 10: Speakers at meeting of Shura Hamdard, Karachi on Friday urged the government not to set aside the UN resolutions on the Kashmir issue in talks with India, as these are sheet anchors for Pakistan's stand on Kashmir. ... French medical mission due today MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 10: A 25-member mission of French doctors and paramedics will arrive here on Saturday for five days to perform complicated surgeries at the Combined Military Hospital, officials confirmed on Friday. ... 30 Indian doctors to attend peace symposium KARACHI, Dec 10: Thirty Indian doctors will be reaching Karachi on Saturday to take part in a symposium to be organized jointly by the Pakistan Doctors for Peace and Development (PDPD) and Indian Doctors for Peace ... Tariff accord with China to cover 913 more items ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan and China will sign a protocol to extend tariff concessions to cover a further 913 items under the Preferential Tariff Arrangement (PTA) for increasing bilateral trade. ... Canada welcomes Pakistan's return to Commonwealth LAHORE, Dec 10: Canadian High Commissioner Margaret Huber has said Pakistan's return to the commonwealth in pursuit of moderation' is a welcome development. ... $5m USAID grant for FC College LAHORE, Dec 10: US ambassador Ryan C. Crocker addressed the faculty and students of the Forman Christian College (FCC) on Friday and announced a USAID grant of $5 million for the institution. ... UNDP to launch two uplift programmes: Poverty alleviation KARACHI, Dec 10: The UNDP will initiate two programmes under the National Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme in backward localities of Karachi and Naushero Feroze. ... People's participation in governance urged ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Participants of an international conference on Friday pledged to make concerted efforts to put people ahead in governance at all levels by securing their rights to sustainable development. ... Bollywood star Amir Khan in Lahore LAHORE, Dec 10: "Let the prejudices go by building trust and faith" is the message from Bollywood film star Amir Khan who arrived here on Friday evening. ... Peace vital to protect fragile mountains' ecosystem ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The United Nations, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are commemorating The World Mountain Day on Saturday ... Plan to set up five Numl campuses approved ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a Rs35 million scheme for National University of Modern Languages (Numl), which will establish five regional campuses in major cities of the country ... Domestic violence major problem for women PESHAWAR, Dec 10: Domestic violence is one of the biggest problems for Afghan refugee women and they dont find any remedy due to the conservative social set-up, speakers at a seminar said here on Friday. ... Workshop on development communications ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Media persons, academics and non- governmental organizations, representatives stressed close cooperation and strengthening of relationship between media and civil society for effective and sustainable development. ... PBC opposes setting up of commercial courts ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Rasheed A Rizvi on Friday accused the superior judiciary of allowing a "usurper" to violate the Constitution and depriving the electoral college of its right to elect the president of Pakistan. ... Donor agencies seek regular economic monitoring ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Major donor agencies and creditors are calling for regular monitoring of national economy by an independent body after the end of the IMF programme. ... US Congress team visits Torkham PESHAWAR, Dec 10: A US Congress delegation visited Pakistan-Afghan border at Torkham in the Khyber Agency on Friday, officials said. ... Minister affirms help in N. Areas' uplift ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said the government is joining hands with civil society organizations to alleviate poverty from the Northern Areas and Chitral. ...

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