23 February 2005 Wednesday 13 Muharram 1426 ARD, MMA to discuss modalities today: Anti-government drive ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The leaderships of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) are expected to hold another round of talks on Wednesday (today) ... ARD-MMA drive unlikely to pick up LAHORE, Feb 22: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will not be able to mount much pressure on the government even if they join hands for a movement. ... Sindh CM asked to seek trust vote LAHORE, Feb 22: Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro has urged the governor to ask Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim to seek a trust vote from the house. ... Azhar calls for ridding PML of 'corrupt' politicians ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Former president of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) Mian Muhammad Azhar says without ridding Pakistan Muslim League of corrupt and character less elements, PML cannot be turned into an ideological party. ... PML mulls options to resolve crisis LAHORE, Feb 22: The ruling PML is looking into the allegations Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and sacked minister Imtiaz Sheikh have traded, says a party leader and adds the one found guilty will be proceeded against. ... Arrival of inquiry team delayed KARACHI, Feb 22: The arrival of prime minister's inspection team coming to initiate a probe into the allegations against Imtiaz Shaikh has been delayed. The team, headed by Maj Gen Farooq was expected to arrive in the city on Tuesday. ... MQM accused of dividing people on ethnic lines HYDERABAD, Feb 22: Leaders of a number of political, nationalist, religious and social organizations have termed the proposed division of the district a move to divide people by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and stressed the need for coexistence. ... PPP calls for inquiry against CM, ministers HYDERABAD, Feb 22: The general-secretary of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Hyderabad, Mohammad Amin Lakho, has appealed to the Supreme Court to order arrest of Sindh cabinet members and initiate an inquiry into their alleged corrupt practices. ... MMA criticizes plan for new cantonments QUETTA, Feb 22: MMA leader Syed Munawar Hasan has alleged that the government wanted to establish military cantonments in Balochistan to provide bases to the United States. ... Operation to harm federation: Hashmi LAHORE, Feb 22: Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was quoted as saying here on Tuesday that his party was against a military operation in Balochistan. ... Stand off continues in Sui, says Bugti KARACHI, Feb 22: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti said on Tuesday that there was no improvement in the Sui situation as the stand off continued. ... Independent election commission sought PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The National Democratic Front on Tuesday described what it called the unchecked role of intelligence agencies in political affairs and the culture of injustice as the main factors hindering the political process ... PPP, PML-N in alliance for LB polls SIALKOT, Feb 22: After division of the PML in two groups in Sialkot, the PPP and the PML-N have decided to forge a political alliance in the district for the upcoming local elections. ... Signing of dual office bill: order reserved PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday reserved its order over maintainability of a writ petition challenging the signing of a bill by the acting president enabling General Pervez Musharraf to retain two offices. ... SC admonishes NAB over Faisal's case ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday admonished the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and directed it to state in clear terms if it wanted to withdraw a corruption reference against Federal Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat. ... Gen Babar slams NAB KARACHI, Feb 22: Former interior minister Naseerullah Babar on Tuesday slammed the National Accountability Bureau for not taking action against the sacked Sindh revenue minister, Imtiaz Shaikh ... SC admonishes Establishment Division: Mishandling of seniority issue ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday censured the Establishment Division for mishandling the seniority matters and directed the ED to follow rules and ensure rights of smaller provinces in job quotas. ... UNDP pledges support for rain-affected people PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged support for people affected by the recent natural disaster and also assured cooperation to the provincial government in human resource development. ... UN mission donates medicines for rain-hit areas PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The United Nations Organisation, in order to provide medical assistance to the people in rain and snow affected areas of the NWFP, has donated kits of essential medicines to the provincial government. ... Census of Afghans in Sialkot begins today SIALKOT, Feb 22: The UNHCR and Pakistan government will begin the 10-day census of Afghans in the district on Wednesday (today) to determine the actual number of such people who had been coming here over the past 25 years. ... DNA tests of Sui accused negative: Sherpao ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao on Monday said the DNA test reports of 13 accused in Dr Shazia Khalid's assault case had been issued. ... Manual passports valid till June 2006 ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The government has decided that Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) would be mandatory by June 2006, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said. ... Census of DPs begins today ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The government in collaboration with the UN refugee agency is launching a 10-day census of all Afghans living in the country on Wednesday. ... Transfer of schools to dist govts criticized ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi has criticized the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) for giving schools and colleges under the jurisdiction of district governments. ... Population commissions to be set up, says official ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Federal Secretary for Population Welfare Shehzado Sheikh has said independent population commissions will be set up both at federal and provincial levels to address population related issues in the country. ... Housing body ordinance promulgated ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday promulgated an ordinance allowing the establishment of a housing authority for the defence personnel in the federal capital, a parallel body to the CDA and ICT administration. ... 81 awarded degrees in nuclear engineering - KINPOE Convocation 2005 KARACHI, Feb 22: Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said that Pakistan with its limited fossil reserves needs to install more nuclear power plants observing all necessary precautions as this source of energy was comparatively cheaper ... Polio to be eradicated by year-end, says govt KARACHI, Feb 22: The government of Pakistan, fully committed to attaining zero polio prevalence in the country by the end of 2005, is said to lay emphasis, as a policy matter, on prevention and primary health care. ... Earthquake: Musharraf offers help to Iran ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has expressed deep shock and grief over a devastating earthquake in Iran on Tuesday and offered assistance to deal with the disaster, officials said. ... Kashmiris celebrate bus service agreement MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 22: Kashmiris from occupied Kashmir took out a rally here on Tuesday to celebrate the agreement between India and Pakistan to start a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. ... VCOAS visits LoC RAWALPINDI, Feb 22: Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) Gen Ahsan Saleem Hyat visited various areas along the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir. ... 814 more deportees arrive from Muscat KARACHI, Feb 22: As many as 814 worn-out job seekers arrived here on Tuesday by a cargo launch after being deported from Muscat. ... SHC admits APNS petitions KARACHI, Feb 22: The Sindh High Court has admitted writ petitions challenging the Wage Board and Newspapers Employees Act 1973 and extended stay against the chairman, ITNE, says a press release ... Taliban suspect arrested QUETTA, Feb 22: Police on Tuesday arrested a suspected Taliban activist in Balochistan. A Kalashnikov rifle with ammunition, a mobile phone and a Thuraya satellite phone were seized as well as some documents, police said ... Vehicular emissions causing pollution ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Minister for Environment Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal on Tuesday said 30 per cent air pollution in the country was due to vehicular emissions. ... Wafaqul Madaris may get varsity status ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The federation of religious schools - Wafaqul Madaris - might be given the status of a university as the matter was being discussed by relevant ministries, sources told this agency on Monday. ...

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