27 January 2005 Thursday 16 Zilhaj 1425 Opposition discusses strategy for Senate session ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Opposition leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday called on MMA's Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed and discussed with him the strategy to be adopted by the opposition parties in the Senate session being started from February 2. ... Balochistan issue: govt urged to initiate talks BAHAWALPUR, Jan 26: MMA deputy secretary-general MNA Liaquat Baloch has warned the government of any military operation in Balochistan as it will undermine the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan. ... Extraordinary favour to PML youth proposed KARACHI, Jan 26: The government has taken many decisions for the promotion of youth in the country and more such decisions would be taken soon. ... PML drive for new member LAHORE, Jan 26: The PML will open its membership campaign on Feb 4 as Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi will fill up the first form for the purpose, says a press release. ... PPP slams move to reduce UC seats KARACHI, Jan 26: The Pakistan People's Party has vowed to continue struggle for the marginalized and dis empowered people following the government's reported decision of reducing the number of union council seats ... PPP slams MMA's financial policies PESHAWAR, Jan 26: Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) provincial general secretary Sikandar Hayat Sherpao has attributed the refusal by the World Bank to provide loan to the NWFP for the National Drainage Programme (NDP) ... Jamaat for poll arrangement with parties in MMA PESHAWAR, Jan 26: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) will give preference to the components of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in the forthcoming local bodies' elections in the NWFP. ... NRB chief disfavours removal of nazims KARACHI, Jan 26: The National Reconstruction Bureau, which sired the new local government system and monitors its progress, has disfavoured the removal of the nazims of the four bifurcated districts of the province ... Army urged to learn from Dhaka fall KARACHI, Jan 26: Army generals running the country have not learnt any lessons from history, and they may well repeat the mistakes in Balochistan which led to the break-up of Pakistan in 1971. ... Newsmen criticize govt policy QUETTA, Jan 26: Journalists of Dera Bugti have criticized what they called the government's discriminatory policy against local newsmen who were kept out of an official briefing on the Sui situation. ... Rights bodies demand legal aid for lady doctor KARACHI, Jan 26: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and another NGO, the Aurat Foundation, on Wednesday expressed their support for the lady doctor allegedly subjected to rape in Sui ... Religious leader's killer identified PESHAWAR, Jan 26: A team of Special Investigation Group (SIG) personnel has identified the killer of religious leader Syed Agha Ziauddin Rizvi in Gilgit as Mukhtiar Ahmad, an activist of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. ... Jirga meets wanted militant today PESHAWAR, Jan 26: A tribal jirga is meeting with Baitullah Mehsud, chief of the tribal 'mujahideen' in South Waziristan, on Thursday (today) to persuade him to surrender to the authorities without any conditions, sources told Dawn. ... Overhauled copter given to Army Aviation RAWALPINDI, Jan 26: A simple but impressive ceremony was held here at Qasim Army Aviation Base to hand over the 100th helicopter to army aviation overhauled by 503 aviation base workshop. ... West's monopoly hinders poor states growth: report ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Europe, the United States and Japan, by monopolizing global trade, have limited the growth of poor and least-developed countries. ... Kenya offers help to Pakistani exporters SIALKOT, Jan 26: The Kenyan government would provide every assistance to the Pakistani exporters. ... Ogra role in fixing oil prices urged: Senate body forms sub-committee ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources on Wednesday asked the government to empower the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to fix petroleum prices. ... Lawyers' convention convened on 29th ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Wednesday announced plans to hold an All-Pakistan Lawyers' Convention (APLC) on Saturday (29th) to discuss steps for the restoration of the 1973 Constitution ... Ministry to equip press clubs with computers: Quick access to information ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Ministry of Information Technology has approved a project worth Rs34.5 million to provide computers and internet facilities to all major press clubs of the country. ... PMDC to give private colleges representation ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The ongoing stand off between the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the health ministry was resolved on Wednesday when the council decided to give representation to the private medical institutions ... Mission celebrates Republic Day ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Indian High Commission in Islamabad celebrated the country's Republic Day on Wednesday amid tight security, with the spirit of the festivity un dampened by a weather threat and Kashmiris protests. ... Film screened to raise fund for tsunami victims ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy held a documentary film show to raise fund for tsunami affected people here on Wednesday. An amount of Rs15,000 was collected in aid of tsunami victims at the end of the show. ... Kashmiris observe black day ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Jammu Kashmir Milli Tehrik (JKMT) and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Wednesday observed the Indian republic day as black day. ... Depts facing difficulty: Budgetary estimates LAHORE, Jan 26: Several departments of the Punjab government are said to be facing difficulty in preparing their budgetary estimates for the next financial year in the Medium Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF) ... Efforts on to reduce birth rate - Minister HARIPUR, Jan 26: Federal Minister for Population and Social Welfare Chaudhry Shahbaz Ahmad said on Tuesday the government had embarked on a plan to bring down the birth rate from 1.9 per cent to 1.3pc by 2020. ... International psychiatric moot begins tomorrow KARACHI, Jan 26: The Pakistan Psychiatric Society in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association is holding the 15th International Psychiatric Conference with the theme "Expansion of mental health in primary health care" here at a local hotel from Jan 28 to Jan 30. ...

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