04 January 2005 Tuesday 22 Ziqa'ad 1425 No talks with govt: ARD KHAIRPUR, Jan 3: The alliance for Restoration of Democracy leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that neither the ARD nor the People's Party Parliamentarians is holding talks with the government ... Beg terms local polls Musharraf's ploy KARACHI, Jan 3: Former army chief and chairman of the Awami Qiadat Party, Gen (R) Mirza Aslam Beg, has said that Gen Musharraf had opted for an early local body polls to assess the strength of the political forces ... Musharraf's decision supported PESHAWAR, Jan 3: Pakistan Muslim League office-bearers have welcomed President Musharraf's decision to retain his two offices, saying it was the verdict of the people bound to result in the strengthening of national institutions ... Allocation of 'Public Issue Time' in Senate sought ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) in the Senate Raza Rabbani has submitted two amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 1988 seeking inclusion of "Public Issue Time" ... PPP submits resolution against Hudood law in Senate ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar has submitted a private member's resolution in the Senate making a declaration that the punishments prescribed under the Hudood Ordinance 1979 for adultery are not Islamic. ... Hudood law issue being politicized, says Majida ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The ongoing discussion on Hudood ordinances is unnecessarily being made a political issue, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Chairperson Justice (retired) Majida Rizvi said here on Monday. ... Bench hearing judges' case reconstituted ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The Supreme Court on Monday decided to reconstitute a bench to hear cases of retired high court judges seeking pension and other benefits after reaching the age of super annuation without completing five years on the post. ... Doctor brothers' case hearing adjourned KARACHI, Jan 3: The Sindh High Court adjourned on Monday the hearing of the doctor brothers' detention case to Jan 11 to enable the petitioners to challenge the new detention order issued by the provincial home department. ... Status of mass transit projects reviewed KARACHI, Jan 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday reviewed the status of the multi-million dollars Karachi Mass Transit Project at a high-level meeting held at the Governor's House here on Monday. ... PM stresses promotion of engineering & technology KARACHI, Jan 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on stressed the need for promoting technology-based industrial growth for achieving sustainable economic growth in the years to come. ... 2 PN ships loaded with relief goods leave today KARACHI, Jan 3: Two ships of the Pakistan Navy - PN Khaibar and PN Moawin - loaded with relief goods, medical supplies, doctors and three helicopters are leaving here on Tuesday morning to conduct relief operation ... Water-related crisis feared in 20 years ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan is likely to face a major water crisis - flood and drought - in the next 20-50 years owing to unusually fast depletion of the Himalayan glaciers and other related uncertainties. ... Young scientists to attend Nobel laureates' meeting ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced that it will facilitate young scientists to attend 55th meeting of Nobel laureates to be held in Lindau, Germany from June 26 to July 1, said an official statement. ... Ties with Russia will improve: envoy ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia, Syed Iftikhar Murshid, has said that economic relations between Pakistan and Russia will further strengthen in the days ahead. ... 266 Indian fishermen brought to Lahore LAHORE, Jan 3: Authorities on Monday night bought 266 Indian fishermen from Karachi to Lahore for their further transportation to their motherland. ... Over 600 Sikh pilgrims leave LAHORE, Jan 3: Over 600 Sikhs left for India on Monday after performing religious rituals at different gurdwaras in the province. ... PIA flight escapes accident RAWALPINDI, Jan 3: A PIA flight escaped disaster on Monday when one of its engines hit the runway when the plane was landing at the Islamabad airport, officials said. Flight PK-786 from London had 376 passengers and 16 crew members on board. ... Loya Jirga member seeks end to HR abuses ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Malalai Joya, an elected representative of Farah province in the Afghan Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly), who won the International Woman of the Year award last month ... Ministry told to launch Aids awareness drive ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health has asked the Ministry of Health to initiate a mass awareness campaign through print and electronic media about HIV/Aids. ... Fund for tsunami victims set up PESHAWAR, Jan 3: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) has established a fund to assist tsunami victims. ... 'Govt ignoring 16,000 jobless graduates' QUETTA, Jan 3: Balochistan National Party (Mengal) leader Senator Sana Baloch said on Monday that the government had done nothing to provide employment to 16,000 graduates in the province ... Three blasts rock Quetta, Kalat QUETTA, Jan 3: Three bomb blasts rocked Quetta and Kalat townships on Monday night. However, police reported no loss of life or damage to property. ...

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