Gen offers coalition proposal to Opp

Pakistan’s military regime had called for an alliance between the pro-government Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam), PML(Q) and the anti-regime party of former premier Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan People’s Party, sources said on Saturday. Although the government has kept silent, official sources say an offer has been extended to the PPP leadership under which Bhutto’s jailed husband, Asif Ali Zardari, would be freed in return for agreeing to a coalition.

S Arabia bars expats from more jobs

Dubai: A week after barring expats from driving taxis in the country, Saudi Arabia has now announced that all jobs in gold and jewellery shops in the kingdom will be reserved only for its nationals from March 4, 2003. The shop owners have also been strictly instructed to implement 50 per cent ‘‘Saudisation’’ this year itself, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif was quoted as saying by Al-Madinah daily. From the beginning of the next Hijrah year on March 4, 2003, all jobs in jewellery shops will go to Saudis only.