M A I N   N E W S

Bhutto, Sharif barred from holding offices

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (Reuters, PTI) — Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf issued a decree today that seemed to effectively bar ex-Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from holding party offices because of court convictions.

An ordinance issued in the name of figurehead President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar said any person disqualified from being a Parliament member or convicted for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude or under the Anti-Terrorism Act could not be an office-bearer of a political party.

Legal sources said the decree, which would come into force immediately, would effectively bar both Sharif and Bhutto from formally leading their parties — the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan People’s Party respectively.

Govt to upgrade all RECs
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Aug 9 — In order to cope with the increasing pressure on the seven premier engineering institutes of the country, including six IITs and the lone Indian Institute of Science, the Central Government has decided to upgrade all 17 regional engineering colleges and convert these into autonomous deemed universities within one year.

The decision has been taken by the Central Government in the light of recommendations made by a committee headed by Dr Mashelkar and constituted last year to look into the working of the RECs. Under the existing three-tier system prevailing in the country, six IITs and the lone IIS are considered to be the best in the country followed by the RECs and other state-level government or private institutes in terms of standard of education.

After upgradation, these institutes which were considered second best institutes after the IITs, were likely to be renamed as National Institute of Engineering and Technology or Regional Institute of Engineering and Technology, HRD Ministry sources said.

Speaker admits Cong notice

NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (UNI) — Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi today admitted a notice under Rule 184 for a discussion on the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the recent massacres of Amarnath pilgrims and others in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the notice received from Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi would be placed before the Business Advisory Committee later today for fixing time and date of the discussion.

If a discussion is taken up under the Rule, the motion is put to vote.

The House had remained paralysed for the past two days with Congress members sticking to their demand for a judicial probe into the killings which had been rejected by the government.