24 January 2005 Monday 13 Zilhaj 1425 Ponam supports strike call: Balochistan situation HYDERABAD, Jan 23: The provincial unity council of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement at its recent meeting here criticized the army operation in Balochistan and the criminal assault on a lady doctor. ... Balochistan situation to affect Sindh: JSQM SUKKUR, Jan 23: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leader Bashir Qureshi has said that the Balochistan issue will eventually have its impact on Sindh as its resources to have been taken by the others. ... Confrontation can't solve Balochistan issue: CM QUETTA, Jan 23: Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yusuf has said that the Balochistan issue cannot be resolved through confrontation. ... Govt urged to hold talks with Baloch leaders KHAIRPUR, Jan 23: The president of the Sindh chapter of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has said that the Balochistan crisis should be settled through talks and any army operation will harm national integrity. ... Bugti refutes claims of weapons surrender QUETTA, Jan 23: Chief of Jamhoori Watan Party Nawab Akbar Bugti has called upon the government to recognize the ground realities and settle the Balochistan issue politically. ... Two doctors interrogated in Sui case QUETTA, Jan 23: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani said on Sunday that a police party had interrogated two doctors of the Sui hospital run by the Pakistan Petroleum Limited regarding the recent assault case. ... Shahbaz may return home in March LAHORE, Jan 23: PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif is likely to make another attempt to return homeland in March as the powers-that-be are assuring him of a situation different than what he had faced during his last attempt on May 11, 2004. ... Shahbaz to undergo tests in New York NEW YORK, Jan 23: Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) Shahbaz Sharif, who arrived here on Thursday, will undergo medical tests necessitated after his abdominal surgery last year. ... PML to 'clean sweep' LG polls LAHORE, Jan 23: Punjab Communications and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan has said the PML would clean sweep the forthcoming local government election. ... Aziz talks to Karzai on phone ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called Afghan President Hamid Karzai a couple of days before Eid and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to a stable Afghanistan ... Senate body to review amendments on 28th: Rules of business ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The much-awaited meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges has been called for January 28 in the Parliament House to consider over a dozen amendments proposed by the treasury ... Safma seeks PM's help for visa rule relaxation ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: A delegation of South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Minister's House here on Sunday and discussed with him matters relating to upcoming Saarc summit. ... Uplift package for Attock soon: PM ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said he would soon announce an elaborate development programme for the Attock district. ... Registration with Nara declines KARACHI, Jan 23: The number of people desiring registration with the National Aliens Registration Authority (Nara) in Karachi has declined drastically over the past few months. ... Situation in Gilgit calm GILGIT, Jan 23: The situation in the district remained calm on Sunday, but a night curfew continued. A press note issued by the deputy commissioner said that a curfew break was given between 7am and 5pm ... Gas crisis still not over for industry LAHORE, Jan 23: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited may cut supply to power and fertilizer sectors again in the next two days if the cold wave persists and the Pakistan Petroleum Limited fails to restore full supply from the Sui Purification Plant. ... Blast in Kohat KOHAT, Jan 23: A timed device exploded on a bridge near the Pak-Japan Friendship Tunnel in the frontier region of Kohat, Darra Adam Khel, a few hours before the NWFP governor was scheduled to pass through the route ... Govt policies to encourage investors, says Pervaiz LAHORE, Jan 23: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said here on Sunday that the economic policies were aimed at encouragement of foreign investors and their full protection. ... Provinces getting equal water share: minister DADU, Jan 23: Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi has said equal share of water has been released to the provinces for Rabi crops and wheat has been cultivated on millions of acres during the current season. ... PIA plane stuck at airport retrieved PESHAWAR, Jan 23: A PIA Airbus overshot the runway and plunged into adjacent muddy ground on Friday morning, resulting in suspension of domestic and international flights at the Peshawar International Airport for two days. ... Two held in murder of Kazakh diplomat ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: A senior Kazakh diplomat, who was shot in the head on Jan 19, died at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Friday, police and hospital authorities said. ... No communication sent to Iran, says official: Trouble in Balochistan ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Senior military and civilian officials on Sunday denied claims made in reports in a section of the British and US media that Islamabad had accused Iran of fuelling insurgency in the troubled province of Balochistan. ... Pakistan, UK share views on welfare of children KARACHI, Jan 23: A London High Court Judge, Mr Justice Peter Singer, and a solicitor specializing in child abduction and forced marriage cases, Anne-Marie Hutchinson, undertook a two-week long goodwill visit to Pakistan. ... Afghanistan seeks return of its aircraft PESHAWAR, Jan 23: Islamabad is considering a request by Kabul to return Soviet-era aircraft and helicopters flown into Pakistan by defecting Afghan pilots, a senior foreign office official said. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2005