27 February 2005 Sunday 17 Muharram 1426 Imtiaz spells out charges against Arbab KARACHI, Feb. 26: Sacked Sindh Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh has said that he had prepared a 22-point charge sheet against Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim based on the cases and FIRs registered against him after coming into power of Gen Pervez Musharraf. ... Minister's sacking defended by CM HYDERABAD, Feb 26: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that he has no worries as he enjoys support of the president and added that it is his prerogative to sack any of his cabinet ministers if he is not satisfied with his working. ... PML leaders call for transparent inquiry HYDERABAD, Feb 26: The vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League, Dr Shafiq Arain, and other party leaders have strongly protested against the 'crude manner' in which Sindh Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh was sacked by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. ... Benazir convenes meeting PESHAWAR, Feb 26: PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has convened a meeting of a select group of the PPP leaders across the country in Islamabad on Monday, Sardar Ali Khan, a former MNA from Pabbi told Dawn. ... MMA vows to raise issue in Punjab PA: Trains' suspension BAHAWALPUR, Feb 26: MMA deputy parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar has said the issue of cancellation of Rohi Express and other four trains' routes will be raised on the floor of the assembly. ... Electoral bout for NA-127 today: Govt, opp make rival victory claims LAHORE, Feb 26: The ruling PML and all opposition parties will be able to gauge the level of their respective political support in NA-127 (Lahore) as their candidates take part in a by-election on the seat on Sunday (today). ... PTI to launch mass contact drive ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Chief of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Saturday announced launching of a nation-wide public mobilization campaign for restoration of complete democracy. ... Ban on sectarian outfits may be reviewed: Sherpao PESHAWAR, Feb 26: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that the federal government can reconsider ban on some of the sectarian outfits if their leaders cooperate with Islamabad in creating sectarian harmony in the country for which the centre is also formulating a strategy. ... 'President neglecting threats to country': Missile sale to India ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: MMA leader Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad has expressed disappointment over what he said President Gen Pervez Musharraf's lukewarm attitude on the proposed sale of US Patriot missile defence system to India. ... Indian communist leaders to visit Islamabad ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Two top communist leaders from India now visiting Pakistan are due to arrive here on Monday. Harkishan Singh Surjeet and A.B. Bardhan, secretaries- general, respectively, of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India ... CPI leaders call for fight against extremism LAHORE, Feb 26: Communist Party of India Secretary-General A.B. Bardhan has said elimination of religious extremism and a lasting regional peace were necessary for a bright future of the people in India and Pakistan. ... Germany may mediate on Kashmir, says envoy KARACHI, Feb 26: The German ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Christoph Brummer, said on Saturday that the possibility of a mediatory role by Germany or the European Union for resolving disputes between India and Pakistan could not be ruled out. ... 'US to target Pakistan after Iran, Syria' KHAIRPUR, Feb 26: A lecture on "Foreign policy of the USA in the second term of President George W. Bush" was organised by the department of international relations in the Shah Abdul Latif University here on Saturday. ... Polluted lake water causing diseases, declares WHO DADU, Feb 26: A World Health Organization team has declared water of the Manchhar Lake unfit for drinking as well as agriculture purposes and said use of the contaminated water is causing eye, gastroenteritis, skin and hepatitis-B diseases among area fishermen. ... Proposal on sugar mills' by-products sought LAHORE, Feb 26: Federal Industries Minister Shaukat Tareen has asked the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association to prepare a working paper on the use of bagasse for power generation and conversion of molasses into ethanol for use as automobile fuel. ... Procedure for selecting VCs criticized ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi has criticized the revised procedure for selecting vice-chancellors (VCs) of federal public-sector universities. ... $0.16m relief items to be sent to NAs: Unicef ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: Unicef has said it is coordinating delivery of relief supplies worth $160,000 to the rains- and snowfall- affected communities in southern and northern parts of the country. ... SME Bank posted 10-fold higher profit last year ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank posted 10-fold higher profit in 2004 compared to the figures of the year before, stated an official announcement issued here on Saturday. ... AJK Council session next month, says Faisal ISLAMABAD Feb 26: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said the next session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council will be held next month. ... Malnutrition described as main cause of kidney stones KARACHI, Feb 26: Latest technology for diagnosing kidney stones and their causative factors has improved the treatment prospects and provided the grounds for preventive measures. ... President's help sought for recovery of two persons ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: A woman from Karachi has sought help of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, President George W. Bush and Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui in the recovery of her husband and brother-in-law who, she alleges ... Implementation of SC order stressed: SSGC sacked employees ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The Senate special committee on petroleum and natural resources on Saturday expressed its dissatisfaction over the delay in the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict regarding absorption of the sacked Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) employees. ...

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