22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 21: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief coordinator and former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal has condemned the continuing detention and interrogation of the country's nuclear scientists.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Mr Iqbal said the explanations given by Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and other officials about the matter was deceptive.

He said Mr Rashid was vainly trying to cover up the conspiracy designed to put the country's nuclear programme under US-Israeli surveillance after making the scientists suspects.

He said the scientists were being interrogated like criminals and naming the process as "debriefing" could not change the reality. - Our Reporter