29 December 2004 Wednesday 16 Ziqa'ad 1425 Opposition meets in open-air session: Protest against adjournment Protest against adjournment KARACHI, Dec 28: It was the shortest sitting of the Sindh Assembly this year on Tuesday, a private members' day, as Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah called it a day within 20 minutes after commencement of the deliberations. ... PPP MPAs' attitude led to adjournment, says speaker KARACHI, Dec 28: Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah has said that despite the indulgence he showed to the opposition during the whole session on Tuesday, the PPP member, Syed Murad Ali Shah, appeared adamant not to discipline himself and maintain decorum of the house. ... Sindh chief minister defends bifurcation decision ISLAMABAD Dec 28: Sindh Chief Minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim has defended the provincial government's decision of bifurcation of three districts of Sindh and asserted the selection of their headquarters was made purely on merit ... Call for changing system HYDERABAD, Dec 28: The chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Ghinwa Bhutto, has said that without a change in the system, people cannot have get relief. ... Local govt polls under provincial body sought PESHAWAR, Dec 28: The NWFP government has suggested to the centre that the upcoming local body's polls should be held under the supervision of the provincial election authority instead of the Election Commission of Pakistan ... Doctor brothers' case sent to CJ KARACHI, Dec 28: A Sindh High Court judge referred to its chief justice a transfer application by the 'doctor brothers' without extending the interim order restraining the trial anti-terrorism court from pronouncing the final verdict ... Wanted man arrested in Lahore KARACHI, Dec 28: The wanted underworld don, Shoaib Khan, was arrested on Tuesday in Lahore, and is likely to be brought to the city by Wednesday morning. ... Efforts to enhance water availability needed ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: All-out efforts are needed to enhance the availability of water in the country as the commodity has direct bearing on all the socio-economic sectors. ... Body formed to probe embezzlement in NDFC ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue here on Tuesday constituted a five-member sub-committee to probe embezzlement and losses of billions of rupees ... Media persons witness army exercises ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Pakistan Army used live ammunition and battle-field tactical manoeuvres on Tuesday in final stages of the Zarb-i-Kaleem exercise being conducted at Tilla Range, some 130 kilometres south of Islamabad. ... Twin-city status proposed for Karachi, New Delhi KARACHI, Dec 28: A 25-member 'Joint Pakistan-India Peace and Goodwill Mission' arrived here from the West to meet people of both neighbouring countries. ... Pakistani, Indian expats' peace team due tomorrow ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: A delegation of 28 Pakistani and Indian expatriates is arriving here on a three-day goodwill mission on Thursday, says a press release issued by the Pakistan Peace Coalition here Tuesday. ... 'India ready to sign memo on environment' HYDERABAD, Dec 28: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy Noman Saigal has said that India is ready to sign a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan to jointly work on research on environment issues in the two countries. ... Indian literati stress cordial relations KARACHI, Dec 28: Speakers at a conference on Tuesday stressed for more interaction between the peoples of India and Pakistan so that friendship between the two south Asian neighbours could be established and strengthened. ... Indian writers visit ancestral towns THATTA, Dec 28: Members of a delegation of Indian Sindhi writers visited their ancestral towns of Daro and Chuhar Jamali on Monday. In Daro, they attended the launching ceremony of Adab ja Sarchashma ... Firms asked to contribute to EOBI fund regularly ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: The National Assembly standing committee on labour, manpower and overseas Pakistani has asked the public-sector companies to pay their contribution regularly to the Employees Old Age Benefit Institute. ... Canal closure from Jan 6 ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has started preservation of water outflow keeping in view the beginning of canals' closure season, starting from Jan 6. ... PN ships' stay in Male extended ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Shahid Karimullah, has extended the stay of PN Ships in Male for another three days to undertake rescue operations in view of the devastation caused in the Maldive islands ... Expert warns of non-tariff barriers: Quota-free regime ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Pakistan will face a series of non-tariff barriers, particularly the social compliance issue, which might restrict the entry of its products in the market of the developed countries. ... US policy of pre-emptive strikes slammed: Book on 9/11 launched KARACHI, Dec 28: The American unilateralism and western double standards were criticized by intellectuals and politicians at a book launch here on Tuesday. ... 10 more blast suspects held QUETTA, Dec 28: Police have arrested another 10 suspects in connection with the Meezan Chowk bomb blast which had claimed 11 lives and other similar incidents in the provincial capital. ... Probe into AJK seminaries MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 28: The federal government has sought information on the number of foreign students in the seminaries of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, it was learnt here on Tuesday. ...

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