15 February 2005 Tuesday 05 Muharram 1426 Crucial ARD meeting today ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The heads of the component parties of the ARD will meet here on Tuesday (today) to review the current political situation in the country with particular reference to the situation in Balochistan ... Benazir-Nawaz meeting to strengthen ARD: PPP MIRPURKHAS, Feb 14: Sindh People's Party Parliamentarians president Syed Qaim Ali Shah has termed the meeting of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah a major political event. ... MMA plans to hold 'million marches' ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has again decided to boycott the National Security Council (NSC) meeting and announced to hold 'million-men marches' against the government in all the four provincial capitals next month. ... World body report belies govt claims: PML-N: Socio-economic growth ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Chief Coordinator of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal has said the Global Competitiveness Report for 2004-05, released by renowned World Economic Forum ... Opposition's notice of motion against FM ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The opposition on Monday gave notice to the Senate secretariat detailing the reasons for moving a breach of privilege motion against Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri ... Move for debate in senate: Authority status ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The combined opposition in the Senate on Monday urged Deputy Chairman Khalilur Rehman to take up the issue of Defence Housing Authority Islamabad (DHAI) on the last day of the current session of the upper house on Tuesday. ... Oil-pricing formula criticized: Senate session ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Opposition parties in the Senate on Monday unanimously denounced recent increases in petroleum and gas prices, but seemed to have failed to move the government ... PPP demands audit before local council elections FAISALABAD, Feb 14: People's Party divisional coordinator MPA Raja Riaz Ahmad has demanded dissolution of local bodies and a comprehensive audit of four-year tenure before holding next elections so that corrupt office holders could be taken to task. ... Straw holds talks with Musharraf, Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw held separate meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Monday. ... Electioneering for NA-127 by-election picks up LAHORE, Feb 14: Electioneering for by-polls in NA-127 is gaining momentum as both the PML and the PML-N are predicting win for their respective nominees. ... PPP opposes division of Hyderabad district KARACHI, Feb 14: The legislative committee of the PPP Parliamentarians in the Sindh Assembly on Monday cautioned the provincial government against fragmenting Hyderabad to the advantage of its coalition partner. ... SHC sets aside bail cancellation order KARACHI, Feb 14: The Sindh High Court on Monday discharging surety of ex-senator Asif Ali Zardari set aside the bail cancellation order of the Karachi Central sessions judge in Justice Nizam Ahmed murder case. ... Straw says Israel too will be disarmed: Nuclear arsenal LAHORE, Feb 14: Israel will be the last country to be disarmed (of its nuclear arsenal), says British Secretary of State Jack Straw. ... Postponement of PA session criticized QUETTA, Feb 14: The opposition parties in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday termed the postponement of the house's session scheduled for Tuesday unconstitutional. ... Rescue work for marooned people in full swing KARACHI, Feb 14: A high-level committee has been constituted to probe the breach in Shadi Kore dam near Pasni. ... 'Ethics retreat' for ministers held at PM's House ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The federal cabinet on Monday observed what was called an 'ethics retreat' by spending the day at the Prime Minister's House. ... Masood made envoy to UN ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The government on Monday announced the appointment of Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan as ambassador and Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. ... Cantonments in Balochistan aimed against Iran: CPP KARACHI, Feb 14: The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) has opposed the planned military operation in Balochistan and accused the rulers of pursuing the policy of US imperialism. ... Enhanced trade ties with Sri Lanka stressed ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro has said Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent relations and both the countries are cooperating with each other on the forums of Saarc and the Commonwealth. ... Day of mourning for Hariri ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The government will observe a day of mourning on Tuesday to express grief over the death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a bomb blast on Monday. ... WTO meeting to discuss Doha agenda begins ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: A meeting of senior officials from WTO's 148 member countries started in Geneva on Monday to work out measures to ensure that the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is concluded by the end of year 2006. ... Govt help sought for completion of dams ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The multi-billion-rupee Gomal Zam Dam and Mirani Dam projects are experiencing delays due to continued suspension of work and insufficient security at their sites. ... Official made OSD on PM's order: minister ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Minister for Kashmir Affairs Faisal Saleh Hayat on Monday said a senior official of his ministry was made an OSD on the directives of the prime minister ... Implementation strategy raises concern: Environment policy ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: Participants of a panel discussion on 'National Environmental Policy (NEP)' has raised their concerns over the implementation strategy of the policy recently unveiled by the federal environment ministry. ... SC seeks explanation from govt: Over-detention of hijacker ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government to submit comments on over-detention of a Palestinian involved in the hijacking of a Pan Am airliner. ... Statements recorded in Sui assault case QUETTA, Feb 14: The judicial tribunal investigating the Sui assault case recorded statements of more officials on Monday. ... HRCP urges resettlement of people hit by rain LAHORE, Feb 14: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday demanded of the government that it should swiftly resettle all the people displaced by floods and rains and information ... Census of Afghans begins SIALKOT, Feb 14: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Pakistan government on Monday jointly conducted the pilot census procedures for Afghans in the Sialkot district. ...

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