05 January 2005	Wednesday	23 Ziqa'ad 1425

BAHAWALPUR, Jan 4: Police on Tuesday registered a case under 16-MPO against eight MMA leaders, including deputy parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, for allegedly raising slogans against President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The MMA leaders had staged protest demonstrations and raised slogans on Jan 1 against General Musharraf for retaining both the offices. They have been identified as MPA Dr Muhammad Ashraf and Riaz Dahar of PPP. They have not been arrested yet.

RAISE IN FARES: Pakistan Motor Transport Federation, Bahawalpur chapter, at its meeting held here on Tuesday demanded of the Punjab government to increase fares on inter-city routes due to higher prices of petroleum products raised twice during one month.

The meeting was presided over by federation president Sohail Ashraf Warraich. The meeting also expressed its concern over the inordinate delay in the completion of Bahawalpur-Ahmedpur East-Tarinda Road. The transporters demanded of the National Highway Authority to complete the dual carriageway project at the earliest.

SEWERAGE: Sewerage in many low-lying localities has collapsed after recent rain and roads and streets are littered with garbage. Timber market, Noor Shah Bokhari, Tainkiwala Chowk, Tibbia college Road, Sabzi Mandi and the district courts are the worst affected areas. The TMA officials have so far failed to rectify the situation.