14 February 2005 Monday 04 Muharram 1426 US wants Musharraf to quit army post WASHINGTON, Feb 13: The United States has urged President Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down as army chief, but unlike the Commonwealth did not set a deadline for giving up his dual role. ... MMA has disowned amendment, says Qazi LAHORE, Feb 13: The MMA on Sunday disowned the 17th Amendment, citing a breach of agreement by the government in this respect. ... 'Bids being made to destabilize Balochistan govt' ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: PML Central Vice-President Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has criticized certain elements who are trying to destabilize the Jam Yousaf Ali's government at a time when the province is already confronting a crisis situation. ... Nationalists demand scrapping of Gwadar port plan QUETTA, Feb 13: An alliance of four Baloch nationalist parties and Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party have demanded that Gwadar project and setting up of new cantonments should be immediately abandoned ... Bugti accuses governor of levelling baseless allegation QUETTA, Feb 13: Nawab Akbar Bugti, president of the Jamhoori Watan Party, has denied allegations that sophisticated weapons valued at Rs500 million were smuggled into Balochistan from Afghanistan and an enemy country made the payments. ... JWP protests against govt moves KARACHI, Feb 13: The Jamhoori Watan Party - Sindh chapter on Sunday staged a protest rally outside the Karachi Press Club to protest against the government moves to set up cantonments in Balochistan ... 'Officer under investigation': Lady doctor assault case ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The Director-General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan, said on Sunday an army captain accused of criminal assault on a lady doctor in the Sui PPL hospital was "under investigation". ... Jam says casualty figures inflated: Probe into dam breach ordered QUETTA, Feb 13: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousuf has said that flash floods caused by heavy rain have devastated vast areas in Pasni, Turbat, Bela and other regions of Balochistan. ... Time lost in launching Balochistan relief operation PASNI, Feb. 13: Hostile weather conditions, remoteness of the area and the collapse of the fragile infrastructure have been blamed for delay in launching rescue and relief operation in the coastal areas of Balochistan ... Govt 'apathy' towards rain-hit people flayed KARACHI, Feb 13: The Pakistan People's Party on Saturday expressed deep anguish at the alleged government apathy over the plight of those who were affected by heavy rains, snow falls and floods in different parts of the country. ... Task Force starts assessment of damage ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Deputy Chairman Senate Khalil-ur-Rehman on Sunday said that task force has started assessment of damages caused by heavy rains and flood in different areas of the NWFP. ... KKF to start relief operations KARACHI, Feb 13: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has said the party's welfare wing, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation, would provide relief to the people affected by recent rains, flash floods and snowfall in the country. ... MMA condemns price hike KARACHI, Feb 13: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislators have condemned recent increase in prices of petroleum, gas and sugar and demanded repeal of the decision as it will have negative impact on commercial and industrial activities. ... Severe water crisis grips Cholistan ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Cholistan desert is in a grip of severe water crisis and most of its over 100,000 population has started migrating to other parts of Sindh. ... Forces to remain in Gilgit till end of Muharram GILGIT, Feb 13: Army and paramilitary forces will stay in the city and its suburs till the end of Muharram, Northern Areas police chief said. The security forces were deployed in the capital city of Northern Areas on January 8 ... China invites Pakistan to tourism events BEIJING, Feb 13: China has invited Pakistan to attend its national events organized in Beijing this year, to promote bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. ... Wet spells to help achieve wheat target: minister ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said the government is hoping to cross the 20.2 million tons wheat target for this season keeping in view the recent rains across the country. ... Compensation for slain journalists announced WANA, Feb 13: Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain has announced Rs200,000 compensation each for the two slain tribal journalists and assured that the perpetrators of the crime would be taken to task. ... Over Rs1bn to be spent on Margalla tunnel ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will have to spend over Rs1 billion on the construction of a proposed tunnel through Margalla Hills to link Islamabad with Hazara division, experts who had worked on Kohat Tunnel project told Dawn. ... AJK PM in London LONDON, Feb 13: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan arrived here on a week-long visit late on Saturday. ... Census of Afghan refugees to begin on 23rd KARACHI, Feb 13: The Census of Afghan refugees, with the cooperation of UNHCR, will start all over the country, including Karachi from Feb 23. ... Malnutrition kills every sixth woman in Thar - WB MITHI, Feb 13: A World Bank team has observed that one of six women dies prematurely in the sand-swept belt of Sindh where poverty has attained alarming magnitude. ...

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