28 February 2005 Monday 18 Muharram 1426 Benazir, Sharif to have no role in next polls: Rashid LAHORE, Feb 27: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says the government is in contact both with the PPP and the PML-N, but rules out any role for former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif even in the 2007 general election. ... Zafar slams politicians supporting army LAHORE, Feb 27: Ruling PML parliamentarian S.M. Zafar on Sunday added his voice to opposition's call that the army should withdraw from politics, but also sought an enactment to bar such politicians from staying in the profession ... Pagara recalls his prediction KARACHI, Feb 27: The Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) chief, Pir Pagara, has said that he had made a forecast soon after the formation of Sindh government that the House was not going to last long. ... MMA submits motions in NA ISLAMABAD Feb 27: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has submitted an adjournment motion and a privilege motion seeking debate on the controversial Aga Khan University Examination Board and president's remarks targeting religious schools. ... People being misled on economy: JI KARACHI, Feb 27: The secretary general, Jamaat-i-Islami, Syed Munawwar Hasan, on Sunday accused President Pervez Musharraf of secularizing Pakistan and strengthening "his dictatorship" in the country ... CM denies interference by centre in province KARACHI, Feb 27: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim has denied any interference in provincial affairs from the centre and said that the sacking of revenue minister was an administrative decision which he himself had taken. ... Independent group meets in Peshawar today ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The independent group of veteran politicians, led by Begum Abida Hussain and Syed Fakhr Imam, is meeting in Peshawar on Monday to expand its size by gaining support of more eminent but presently inactive politicians. ... Balochs 'facing state terrorism' LAHORE, Feb 27: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Bugti says the Balochs struggling for their rights are being subjected to 'state terrorism.' "The Baloch nationalists, especially the youth, are not terrorists. ... Marri area action condemned by Bugti QUETTA, Feb 27: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on Sunday condemned the police operation in Marri camp, terming it state terrorism and part of preparations to launch a military operation against the Baloch. ... No army operation in Balochistan: Owais QUETTA, Feb 27: Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani has ruled out any possibility of governor's rule in the province and rejected claims that a military operation is under way in Balochistan. ... Jam says NFC award to be announced soon QUETTA, Feb 27: Chief Minister Jam Yousuf has supported President Gen Pervez Musharraf's suggestion that a formula for distributing the national revenue between the centre and federating units on fifty-fifty basis ... PM unveils Rs1bn uplift package for Attock ATTOCK, Feb 27: Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz on Sunday announced a package of Rs1 billion for the development of the arid and backward district of Attock. ... Associates of Dr Khan met Iranians in '87: US paper WASHINGTON, Feb 27: International investigators have uncovered evidence of a meeting 18 years ago between Iranian officials and associates of Dr A. Q. Khan to provide Iran the basics of a nuclear weapons programme ... UAE prince calls on Pervaiz LAHORE, Feb 27: Prince Sheikh Maktoom Hashar bin Maktoom of the United Arab Emirates called on Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi here on Sunday. ... Muttahida hands out relief fund for rain-hit KARACHI, Feb 27: The deputy convener of the MQM Coordination Committee, Farooq Sattar, Minister of State Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain and MNA Nisar Panhwar on Sunday visited Chaman, Dobandi and Gulistrar ... 90pc Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus passengers will be Kashmiris ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: At least 90 per cent of the passengers travelling on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, likely to be launched on April 7, would be Kashmiris ... Indian Sadhus visit Sachal's shrine KHAIRPUR, Feb 27: A delegation of Hindu Sadhus from India, led by Sarwan and Swami, paid a visit to the shrine of Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast in Darazaon Sunday evening. ... Pakistan offers Eritrea help in energy, mineral sectors ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Pakistan can help the Eritrean government in the development of its energy and mineral sectors. ... Reports on madressahs exaggerated: WB ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: A World Bank-sponsored study has said that enrolment in Pakistani madressahs (Islamic schools), that critics believe are misused by militants, has been exaggerated by media and a US 9/11 report. ... AJK proposes Kashmir football match ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government plans a friendly football match with a team from Indian-held Kashmir to further boost relations after the proposed resumption of a bus service, an official said on Sunday. ... Census of Afghans to continue till March 4 ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The census of Afghans living in different parts of the country, which started on February 23, is progressing smoothly. ... Afghan census report next month LAHORE, Feb 27: The first report of the country-wide census being conducted by the UNHCR and the government to exactly know the total number of Afghan nationals living here would be made public by the middle of next month (March). ... Workshop on Afghanistan KARACHI, Feb 27: A two-day international workshop on the challenge of rebuilding in Afghanistan will begin here on Wednesday to deliberate on the situation arising out of the collapse of the Taliban regime ... Rs1.5bn payment yet to be adjusted - NWFP's policy of retiring expensive debt PESHAWAR, Feb 27: The federal government has not yet adjusted over Rs1.5 billion loan the NWFP government had prematurely retired during the current financial year to lighten the burden of expensive loans ... Fair dealing with all provinces stressed KARACHI, Feb 27: Speakers at a seminar on National Reconciliation: Need of the Hour were unanimous in their opinion that national issues could only be addressed through fair and equitable distribution of resources ... Kashmiris' inclusion stressed NEW YORK, Feb 27: A two-day international conference on Kashmir here ended on a discordant note when it adopted a declaration that does not mention United Nations resolutions as the basis for settling the dispute. ... Glaucoma second leading cause of blindness - experts KARACHI, Feb 27: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and early detection and early onset of treatment are the most important factors for preventing progressive glaucoma damage. ... Wildlife team rescues 31 blind dolphins KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh Wildlife Department has rescued 31 Indus Dolphins while three died during the rescue operation carried out during the current season from August 2004 to January 2005. ...

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