18 January 2005 Tuesday 07 Zilhaj 1425 Benazir wants army out of politics ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has asked the regime to keep the armed forces out of politics. ... Political means to be used to resolve Balochistan issue: Shujaat ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The situation in Balochistan is a political issue and political means will be used to resolve it, President of the Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said. ... Jatoi urges govt to hold talks on Balochistan KARACHI, Jan 17: Former Prime Minister and chief of the National People's Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi on Monday expressed grave concern over the 'rapidly deteriorating' situation in Balochistan ... PPP wants talks on Balochistan SUKKUR, Jan 17: The leader of the opposition in senate, Raza Rabbani, has said the government will harm solidarity of the country if it does not resolve the Balochistan issue through a dialogue and uses force. ... PPP ready to discuss KBD, Balochistan LAHORE, Jan 17: By reconciliation the PPP-Parliamentarians means handing over of reigns of the country to public representatives and not necessarily to the party, says central information bureau coordinator MPA Farzana Raja. ... Motion on Pakistanis' deaths filed in NA ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) members have submitted an adjournment motion to the National Assembly Secretariat over the killing of Pakistanis by security forces in Greece and Turkey. ... Opposition to move motion on workers' death abroad ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Opposition parties have notified the chairman Senate about their intention to move an adjournment motion on reported killing of 9,000 illegal Pakistani immigrants by border security forces in Greece and Turkey over the past 10 years. ... Rights of smaller provinces being usurped - SNF HYDERABAD, Jan 17: Sindh National Front chairman Mr Mumtaz Bhutto has said that oppressed nationalities of the country will have to go to Punjab and tell the masses that rights of smaller provinces are being usurped by the majority province. ... Former PPP leader rejoins party TIMERGARAH, Jan 17: Ahmed Hasan Khan, provincial president of Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao), has rejoined the mainstream Pakistan People's Party. ... PPP 'exposes' financial irregularities KARACHI, Jan 17: The Pakistan People's Party on Monday slammed the government for its failure in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to the National Finance Commission (NFC) ... Appointment of CEC after govt's request, says acting CJ ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Monday said the government had not yet requisitioned any nomination from the Supreme Court for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). ... PML-PPP reconciliation hinted at LAHORE, Jan 17: The Punjab PML secretary-general has hinted at a possibility of reconciliation between the ruling party and the PPP (Parliamentarians). ... Shahbaz leaves Jeddah for US: report LAHORE, Jan 17: President of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) Shabaz Sharif left Jeddah for the United States, a television report said on Monday. ... Politics of uplift works ahead of LB polls SIALKOT, Jan 17: Differences among the ruling party's local politicians have divided the PML into two groups before the forthcoming local bodies elections. ... Political agent seeks changes in FCR GHALANAI, Jan 17: Political Agent of Mohmand Agency, Sahibzada Mohammad Anees, has said that amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) are inevitable. ... Senate seeks report on Okara farms ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The Senate Secretariat has asked the defence ministry to submit a progress report as to what action it had taken on the recommendations of the Senate sub-committee on human rights for resolution of the Okara military farmlands issue ... Father appears as witness for doctor brothers KARACHI, Jan 17: An anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing of a trial against doctor brothers after recording the statement of their father, who appeared as the first defence witness. ... Judicial body starts proceedings QUETTA, Jan 17: A judicial tribunal constituted to probe into a case of an alleged sexual assault on a lady doctor in Sui started its proceedings on Monday. ... Wapda faces additional shortage of 600mw - Gas supply cut LAHORE, Jan 17: The Water and Power Development Authority, already finding it hard to meet electricity demand because of persistent drought, is now facing additional shortage of 600 megawatts due to stoppage of gas supply to its generation units. ... Six rockets fired at checkpoint QUETTA, Jan 17: Six rockets were fired by unidentified persons at a checkpoint of the Frontier Corps in the mountainous area of Bolan, blowing up a power tower near Bibi Nani. ... Curfew break SKARDU, Jan 17: The authorities allowed two hours' break in curfew in Skardu and Gamba from 10am to 12 noon on Monday after five days. "The situation remained calm and peaceful. ... Call for research on Islamic banking LAHORE, Jan 17: There is no way for analysts to measure the success of the Islamic banking in the world as no benchmark is available, says a World Bank consultant on Islamic finance. ... 'Unequal' allocation of funds criticized - NWFP Assembly debate PESHAWAR, Jan 17: The lawmakers from both sides of the divide in the NWFP assembly on Monday criticized the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government for what they saw as "unequal distribution" of development funds to them during the current fiscal year. ... NA deputy speaker for enhancing trade ties with China ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqub has said Pakistan and China enjoy close friendly relations which provide a solid foundation for further strengthening and broadening economic cooperation between the two countries. ... Refugees get computerized vehicle numbers PESHAWAR, Jan 17: A number of Afghan refugees have obtained computerized motor registration numbers in violation of the vehicle registration law. ... CSS exam results announced ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Only 327 candidates out of 3, 455 have passed the competitive examination-2004 and the pass percentage was 9.46 per cent, says a notification of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). ... G M Syed lauded for his struggle KARACHI, Jan 17: Speakers at a function held here on Monday paid rich tributes to the founder of Jeay Sindh movement, late G M Sayed, for his services for the cause of 'oppressed nations' ... Joint survey on Sir Creek completed ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The Foreign Office on Monday announced that Pakistan and India had completed ahead of schedule the joint survey on the Sir Creek boundary pillars. ... Baglihar: 'India can delay WB arbitration' WASHINGTON, Jan 17: A World Bank official has said that Pakistan's efforts to settle its dispute over the Baglihar hydropower project with India through third party mediation may not be very fruitful. ... Meeting on minimum wages put off ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The process of increasing the minimum monthly wages of workers from Rs2,500 to Rs3,000 has hit snags as the government has postponed a number of meetings ... Journalists boycott PA session LAHORE, Jan 17: The Punjab Assembly could not transact any business on Monday as the speaker adjourned the house for Tuesday morning for lack of quorum. ... CPNE vows to promote free, fair journalism KARACHI, Jan 17: The standing committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors at a meeting has reiterated its resolve to play its role for the promotion of free and fair journalism in the country. ... Cotton yield touches new heights MULTAN, Jan 17: Cotton production will touch new heights this season as by Jan 15 some 13.76 million bales have reached the 1,020 ginneries currently operational across the country. ... Smuggled surgical items flood market PESHAWAR, Jan 17: Smuggled disposable surgical items are causing infection and loss to the national exchequer, doctors and officials have told Dawn. ...

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