12 February 2005 Saturday 02 Muharram 1426 Benazir-Nawaz meeting crucial turning point, says PPP KARACHI, Feb 11: Sindh Executive Committee of the Pakistan People's Party on Friday termed Benazir-Nawaz meeting in Jeddah a crucial turning point in the struggle for the restoration of undiluted democratic dispensation ... Struggle to restore constitution soon: Nawaz ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: PML-N Rahber Nawaz Sharif has said all religious and political forces in Pakistan have realized the gravity of the situation, and will soon launch a struggle to defend the country and restore the Constitution. ... PML-N for averting 1971-like situation ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Newly-appointed parliamentary leader of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in Senate and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar has called for taking immediate steps ... Only popular leadership can resolve issues: PML-N KARACHI, Feb 11: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has asserted that only an uninterrupted political process can bring stability to Pakistan and help resolve the pressing problems being faced by masses. ... PML House to monitor security LAHORE, Feb 11: Muharram security situation in Punjab will be monitored from a control room to be established at the Muslim League House here. ... PML plans relief for rain victims ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) on Friday announced to fund construction of 5,000 houses in the rain-hit areas of Balochistan and to immediately start assessment of damages in Balochistan and the NWFP. ... Larkana PPP sets up election board LARKANA, Feb 11: The Larkana district chapter of the People's Party Parliamentarians has formed an election board to finalize names of candidates for the next local bodies' elections. ... Jam says he is not being sidelined ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yusuf on Friday denied reports that he was being sidelined and being replaced by a stronger administrator to effectively control law and order in the province. ... Motion submitted against authority status to DHS ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The combined opposition on Thursday filed an adjournment motion in the Senate against the recent decision of the cabinet to convert defence housing scheme (DHS) Islamabad into a full-fledge authority. ... Joint efforts urged to combat terrorism: Musharraf, Ahadi hold talks RAWALPINDI, Feb 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan need to continue their joint efforts to combat the menace of extremism and terrorism in order to realize economic potential of the region. ... System being reformed for speedy justice: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the government is committed to providing people quick access to justice by reforming and revamping the legal system. ... Govt using all resources for rural uplift: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said the government was giving top priority to the development and prosperity of the rural areas and utilizing all available resources to achieve this goal. ... SWC says Baglihar has a lesson for govt: Kalabagh dam dispute HYDERABAD, Feb 11: The Sindh Water Committee, which met here on Friday, asked the Punjab and federal government to ensure justice to Sindh, given the fact that they are demanding the same from India ... Govt urged not to surrender on Baghlihar Dam KARACHI, Feb 11: Speakers at a meeting of Shura Hamdard, Karachi chapter, urged the government not to surrender to India on Baghlihar Dam and start construction of Kalabagh Dam immediately after evolving a consensus of all provinces. ... SC to take up six cases from 24th ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Supreme Court will take up a set of petitions on February 24 challenging the President to Hold Two Offices Bill 2004 and the Seventeenth Constitutional Amendment, an official source told Dawn. ... Pakistan, EU begin talks on re-admission accord: Deportation of illegal immigrants ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Pakistan and the European Union (EU) have started formal negotiations to sign a 're-admission agreement' for checking illegal immigrants living in the Europe, sources said on Friday. ... US revises schedule of fees for consular services WASHINGTON, Feb 11: The US Department of State has revised the schedule of fees for consular services, said an official announcement Thursday. ... AG seeks time to file reply in doctor brothers' case KARACHI, Feb 11: The Advocate-General of Sindh on Friday sought time to submit reply to the amended petition filed by the doctor brothers in the Sindh High Court. ... Detained Pakistani's family flays govt KARACHI, Feb 11: The wife of a Pakistani businessman, who is being held at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison camp allegedly for his links with the Al Qaeda, has lashed out at the government of Pakistan for what she described criminal silence ... Delayed decisions blamed for unrest RAWALPINDI, Feb 11: The chief secretary of Balochistan has blamed the federal government for delayed policy decisions which he says are causing unrest and creating a law and order situation in Balochistan, Dawn has learnt. ... Recruitment ban being lifted, says governor HYDERABAD, Feb 11: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that the ban on employment is being lifted and advertisements will be published in newspapers from next week. ... Nazims can't be prematurely removed: counsel KARACHI, Feb 11: Nazims and deputy nazims cannot prematurely be removed except by internal or external recall, resignation, suspension or death, the counsel for the four relieved local government heads of bifurcated districts argued before a Sindh High Court division bench on Friday. ... Environment body's working criticized ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) on Friday criticized Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) for failing to control atmospheric degradation that had become a serious concern in the country. ... Japanese help sought for leprosy patients KARACHI, Feb 11: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Friday sought help of Japan for rehabilitation of leprosy patients, their vaccination and provision of treatment by using modern technology. ... $27.5m US aid for education reforms: Senate told - Askari Board to be set up soon ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Senate was told on Friday that the US government was providing $27.5 million to Pakistan as development assistance for its education sector. ... TI demands distribution of state land among tillers KARACHI, Feb 11: Tehrik-i-Istiqlal chief Rehmat Khan Wardag has call for distributing all state lands among the farmers cultivating them, saying this would help boost agricultural production and ultimately make the country self- sufficient in this sector. ... Law against false FIRs likely ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Filing of false FIRs (first information reports) will be considered a 'crime' under legal reforms being formulated by the government, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao told Dawn on Thursday. ... Anniversary of Kashmiri leader observed MIRPUR, Feb 11: The 19th martyrdom day of Kashmiri leader Muhammad Maqbool Butt was observed on both sides of the valley on Friday with renewed pledges that the mission of the late leader ... Need to include Kashmiris in talks stressed RAWALPINDI, Feb 11: Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Azad Kashmir Sardar Ijaz Afzal Khan has stressed inclusion of Kashmiris in Pakistan-India talks, saying bilateral negotiations cannot solve the decade-long issue. ... Pilot census for Afghans on 14th: Sialkot selected in Punjab SIALKOT, Feb 11: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Pakistan government have selected Sialkot in Punjab for jointly conducting pilot census procedures for Afghans in Pakistan. ...

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