14 December 2004 Tuesday 01 Ziqa'ad 1425 Hunger strike staged against Musharraf's uniform KARACHI, Dec 13: The All Parties Action Committee, comprising various religious and political parties, including components of the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal and Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, on Monday staged a token hunger strike outside the Press Club against uniform of President Pervez Musharraf. ... JI's terms for taking part in MQM's APC KARACHI, Dec 13: Secretary General of Jamat-i-Islami Syed Munawar Hasan said on Monday that unless the Muttahida Qaumi Movement get its state minister on religious affairs removed and seek an apology on his remarks against Allama Iqbal, Quaid-i-Azam, two-nation theory and Ulema, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would not attend its all-parties conference. ... PML-N spells out terms for talks with govt KARACHI, Dec 13: The PML-N Information Secretary Siddique Al-Farooq rejected any secret deal or negotiations with the regime headed by Gen Pervez Musharraf. ... Kashmiris' consent necessary: ARD MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 13: Alliance for Restoration of Democracy chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim said here on Monday that any decision on Kashmir without the consent of the Kashmiris would not be acceptable. ... Benevolent fund bill: Senate body suggests changes ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The Senate standing committee on finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics on Monday suggested a couple of amendments to the Federal Employees' Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2004. ... Transparency bill sent to Senate sectt ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) has submitted a bill to the Senate Secretariat seeking the establishment of an autonomous corporation to develop and maintain the Pakistan Portal on Contracts Management... ARD submits adjournment motion on Quetta blast ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) has submitted an adjournment motion to the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a debate on the recent Quetta bomb blast in which 10 persons were killed and 30 injured. ... ANP supports PPP candidate in Malakand PESHAWAR, Dec 13: The Awami National Party (ANP) has asked its supporters in the Malakand protective region to vote for PPPP candidate Humayun Khan in the Dec 15 by-election on NA-35, the national assembly's lone constituency from the area. ... PPP slams bifurcation of districts KARACHI, Dec 13: Sindh People's Party Parliamentarians president Syed Qaim Ali Shah has criticized the government for creating four new districts by fragmenting Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu and Tharparkar districts. ... Nuclear power reliable energy option ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Nuclear power is one of the most established and reliable components of Pakistan's energy options for socio-economic development. ... PM assures EU envoys on steps to curb extremism ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has assured the European Union that Pakistan would continue to play its critical role in curbing extremism and promotion of an enlightened and moderate face of Islam. ... PM calls for judicial, police reforms ISLAMABAD Dec 13: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday reiterated his government's priority of reforming the police and judicial system to ensure cheaper and quicker justice to the common man. ... Engg sector engaged in mal practices: NA body ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning and Development has accused the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) of failing to make any significant impact on living standards of consumers ... Positive travel advisories to boost investment KARACHI, Dec 13: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has expressed the hope that travel advisories by the US and European countries for Pakistan, specially Karachi, will be reviewed in a positive manner. ... UNDP experts being hired to improve postal service KARACHI, Dec 13: Federal Communication Minister Shamim Ahmed Siddiqui has said that consultants are being hired from the UNDP on the directive of the federal government to help meet WTO challenges in postal sector. ... Privatization of Wapda opposed HYDERABAD, Dec 13: A large number of workers of the Jamshoro thermal power station and Lakhra power station staged a demonstration on Monday outside the power houses in protest against the proposed privatisation of Wapda. ... First Haj flight to leave tomorrow ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The first Haj flight of PIA will leave for Jeddah from Peshawar on Wednesday, carrying 270 pilgrims. ... WHO plans workshops for disaster response PESHAWAR, Dec 13: The World Health Organization has agreed to conduct skill development workshops for health professionals serving in areas with no system to respond to mass casualties and other emergency situations. ... Baloch leaders demand release of students QUETTA, Dec 13: Asif Baloch, the chairman of the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO), was arrested soon after he had addressed a press conference here on Monday. ... International conference on population begins today KARACHI, Dec 13: A three-day international conference to promote and strengthen regional cooperation in research and policy development in the discipline of population across South and West Asia will be held in the University of Karachi on Dec 14. ... KaraFilm Festival awards announced KARACHI, Dec 13: An award distribution ceremony and entertainment programme featuring pop outfit Aaroh, Hadiqa Kiyani and Atif Aslam of Jal on Sunday marked the finale of the KaraFilm Festival. ... No threat to German language: scholar ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Visiting German scholar Dr Christina Oeberheld, who is head of Urdu department at the South Asian Institute of the Heidelberg University, has said German language is proficient enough to express all types of concepts, meanings and terminology. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004