24 January 2004	Saturday	01 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat has said investigation into attacks on President Gen Pervez Musharraf has been completed and all those involved have been identified.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a bridge on the Islamabad Highway on Friday, the minister said investigations revealed that some local people, belonging to an extremist group, were involved in the attacks. The possibility of their links with international terrorist organizations could not be ruled out, he added.

He refused to disclose the names of accused and the group involved. Talking about the possibility of banning a Saudi Arabia-based organization, Al Haramain, Mr Hayat said Pakistan had never banned any charity organization but, he pointed out, Al Haramain was not a charity organization.

The United States and Saudi Arabia had asked the United Nations to ban Al Haramain on charge of providing funds to Al Qaeda. The offices of the organization are stated to be located in Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya and Tanzania.

In reply to a question about debriefing of nuclear scientists, the minister said: "We have made substantial progress in this regard". Talking about a call given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to launch a protest campaign against the detention of scientists, he said: "Pakistan is a democratic country and everyone has a right to express his views."