14 January 2005 Friday 03 Zilhaj 1425 Governor's rule in Balochistan proposed ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: A Baloch politician from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) on Thursday proposed imposition of governor's rule in Balochistan for some time to restore law and order in the troubled province. ... Opposition leader criticizes government QUETTA, Jan 13: Leader of opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali Baloch has criticized what he termed undemocratic and aggressive posture of President Pervez Musharraf to suppress political movements ... Mengal fears violence in Balochistan KARACHI, Jan 13: Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal, founder of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), has described the situation in his province worse than that of the 70s as violence seemed inevitable there. ... PA opposition demands restraint on Balochistan LAHORE, Jan 13: President Musharraf's interview with a TV channel in which he had warned the Baloch nationalists came under criticism in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. ... Assembly passes two bills LAHORE, Jan 13: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed The Punjab Consumer Protection Bill, 2004, and The Punjab Heritage Foundation Bill, 2004. ... PA rejects Shariat Bill amendments PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The NWFP Assembly on Thursday rejected a bill tabled by Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid, seeking structural changes in the Shariat Bill. ... Changes made in PPP Sindh setup KARACHI, Jan 13: Amid major reorganization, the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Peoples Party now has a new secretary general, deputy secretary general and information secretary, party sources said on Thursday ... Parties whip up activities for LB polls SWABI, Jan 13: Leaders of political parties on Wednesday rejected the announcement by the government that elections for the local bodies would be held on non-party basis, saying that the government could not exclude political parties from the process. ... Six file papers for NA-127 LAHORE, Jan 13: Six candidates filed their nominations for contesting election to National Assembly constituency NA-127 on the last day for filing papers on Thursday. ... Democracy vital to tackle problems: expert ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The nation will continue to suffer as long as non-representative elements exercise unlimited powers and interfere in the affairs of the country. ... Clarification In the lead story in Thursday's Dawn, one of the headlines mistakenly attributed the words "Operation in offing" to the ISPR. ... Senate body briefed on defence production ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production met in the Parliament House and was briefed on the working of the Defence Production Division. ... Changes in certain laws proposed ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The government on Thursday unveiled two proposed bills designed to create a federal court and to amend certain criminal and civil laws for speedy disposal of cases. ... Imran calls for demilitarization of entire Kashmir ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has called for the demilitarization of the entire Jammu and Kashmir and holding of elections under the UN to establish a true representative government of Kashmiris. ... CM warns against construction of Kalabagh Dam PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The NWFP Chief Minister, Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani, on Thursday reiterated his opposition to the construction of Kalabagh Dam and warned that imposition of any decision from the 'top' would trigger disunity. ... JTI, IJT protest against changes in curriculum QUETTA, Jan 13: Student wings of the JUI-F and the Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday staged demonstrations to protest against changes in curriculum and inclusion of the Aga Khan board's teaching programme in the education policy. ... Lack of interest in physics 'worrying' LAHORE, Jan 13: Nuclear scientist and prime minister's special adviser Dr Ishfaq Ahmad has said lack of interest in physics among Pakistani youth was a matter of great concern. ... Ministry told to ensure financial discipline: Action against FO official ordered ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: National Assembly Public Accounts Committee on Thursday directed the ministry of foreign affairs to improve fiscal discipline in the ministry and missions abroad. ... USDA gives Rs1,521m for poverty reduction ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given Rs1,521 million to Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) to reduce poverty in the country. ... LGs failed to implement Environment Act: minister ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The district administrations and provincial governments have failed to implement the Environment Act despite unprecedented increase in pollution and subsequent risks to human health. ... Ulema oppose private examination board RAWALPINDI, Jan 13: Ulema and religious scholars from different schools of thought on Thursday rejected the establishment of Aga Khan Education Board saying the move was a conspiracy to secularise the country. ... NAB recovers Rs670m in 37 plea bargains ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs670 million in 37 plea bargains and voluntary return deals during the last six months of 2004. ... Bosan fears major shortfall in wheat crop ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan here on Thursday feared a major shortfall in the next wheat crop due to availability of 47 per cent less irrigation water this year. ... Farm loans deadline extended ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Zari Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) has extended the deadline for disbursement of loan under its one-window operation for Rabi 2004-05 till January 31 to meet the input demand of the farming community ... 'Emigration bureau failed to check human smuggling' ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Pakistanis failed to check human smuggling to Malaysia by not issuing a timely warning, a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis said here on Thursday. ... Rs52m donated for tsunami victims: Farooq KARACHI, Jan 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has mobilized aid for the tsunami victims to the tune of Rs52 million, out of which Rs32 million were in kind and the remaining in cash. ... Pakistan's help for tsunami victims acknowledged KARACHI, Jan 13: The consul general of Sri Lanka at Karachi, Manel De Silva, has expressed her profound gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for their massive and timely support for victims of tsunami ... Charity concerts for tsunami victims ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jahangir Khan Tareen has asked the ministries of information, foreign affairs, sports & culture ... Commemorative stamps on Iqbal, Eminescu KARACHI, Jan 13: To highlight the similarities in the works of Allama Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan, and Mihai Eminescu, national poet of Romania, the Pakistan Post Office will unveil a set of two postage stamps on Friday. ... Smoking hazards highlighted KARACHI, Jan 13: Concerted efforts are required to save youth from tobacco consumption, and to create awareness about the menace and its impact in the country. ...

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