05 March 2005 Saturday 23 Muharram 1426 Political parties ask govt to step down: Rising prices KARACHI, March 4: Speakers at a rally organised against rising prices called upon the government to step down from power as it had miserably failed to control the price hike. ... Efforts to end rifts in MMA to continue PESHAWAR, March 4: Provincial MMA and JUI-S president Qazi Abdul Latif has said that efforts for reconciliation will help keep the alliance intact. ... Call to purge ruling coalition of 'subversive' elements ISLAMABAD, March 4: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Senior Vice-President Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has said there are certain elements within the ruling coalition who are active in subverting whatever President Gen Pervez Musharraf stands for. ... PPP wants polls in 2005 under caretaker govt SUKKUR, March 4: The People's Party Parliamentarians has called upon Gen Musharraf to step down to pave way for democracy in the country. ... Hashmi to be taken to Lahore today ISLAMABAD, March 4: Jailed president of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Makhdoom Javed Hashmi will be taken to Lahore on Saturday for appearance in an accountability court, a source told Dawn on Friday. ... Khetran tribe elders and 3 parties to support Bugti QUETTA, March 4: The elders of the Khetran tribe and leaders of three political parties, the PPP, BNP and National Party, Barkhan, have assured all help and cooperation to Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti ... Kalabagh dam will harm state integrity: Asfandyar QUETTA, March 4: Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan, chief of the Awami National Party, has asked President Pervez Musharraf choose either the Pakistan or Kalabagh Dam, as both cannot coexist. ... JSM rally against dam, canal projects NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, March 4: Workers of Jeay Sindh Mahaz staged a rally against the Kalabagh dam and Thal canal projects here on Friday. ... ANP appoints acting general secretary PESHAWAR, March 4: The provincial chief of the Awami National Party, Nasim Wali Khan, has asked the Deputy General Secretary of the party's NWFP chapter, Amir Haider Khan Hoti, to discharge duties as the acting general secretary. ... JWP condemns police action in Marri Camp QUETTA, March 4: Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti, a member of the Jamhoori Watan Party's central committee, said on Thursday that the Baloch wanted development in the province according to their wishes ... Senate body seeks more funds for NICVD KARACHI, March 4: The Senate standing committee on health has recommended to the government to bring on a par budgetary allocation for the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases (NICVD) with the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC). ... Man in US pleads guilty to killing Pakistani NEW YORK, March 4: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty on Thursday to the robbery and fatal beating of a Pakistani part-time pizza deliveryman, who had just graduated with honours from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. ... Committees formed for investment conference PESHAWAR, March 4: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani on Friday constituted committees to make arrangements for an investment conference being organized by the government here on March 14-15. ... WFP to send food to rain-hit areas ISLAMABAD, March 4: The World Food Programme (WFP) has started its emergency operation to distribute food worth $500,000 in rain and snowfall-affected areas of the country. ... Rulers accused of fanning sectarianism ISLAMABAD, March 4: Successive governments as well as the present one are responsible for promoting sectarianism in the country. ... PIA plan to sell planes deferred ISLAMABAD, March 4: The Ministry of Defence informed the National Assembly on Friday that the proposed sale of six A-300B4 and two B-747 aircraft had been deferred . ... Historical monuments to go to provinces LAHORE, March 4: The federal government has decided to hand over monuments under its control to the provinces by the next financial year for their proper upkeep. ... Rs82.5m fraud in ZTBL, NA told ISLAMABAD, March 4: Fraud amounting to Rs82.51 million was committed in five branches of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTBL) over the past three years, record placed before the National Assembly on Friday revealed. ... Five-day Urdu festival begins on 9th ISLAMABAD, March 4: The main focus of Urdu festival "Urdu Hai Jiska Naam" scheduled to begin here from March 9-13 would be on the poetry of Faiz, Ghalib, Iqbal and Meer. ... Writer's role in peace process discussed KARACHI, March 4: The ongoing process of peace and amity between India and Pakistan is irreversible, said Indian Communist leader A B Bardhan at the dinner reception held by the Anjuman Taraqqi Pasand Mosannefin in honour of visiting Indian guests on Thursday. ... Workshops on maternal, health and trauma skills PESHAWAR, Feb 4: The World Health Organization has planned workshops on emergency maternal and child health and trauma skills to build the capacity of the health workers in three districts of the country. ... UNRA sends tents for rain-hit refugees QUETTA March 4: The United Nations refugee agency has dispatched two convoys of trucks carrying 1000 tents to provide emergency shelter to Afghan refugees in the Loralai and Muslim Bagh areas. Houses of these refugees were destroyed by recent heavy rain in Balochistan. ...

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