25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

PESHAWAR, Jan 24: Pakistan Muslim League-N's provincial chief Pir Sabir Shah has said that the detention of nuclear scientists is a conspiracy against the integrity and solidarity of the country, a press release said.

Talking to a party delegation of Malakand Agency here on Saturday, he said the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had detonated the atomic bombs despite tremendous international pressure.

Since going nuclear, the defence of Pakistan had become impregnable and the enemy's dreams of subduing it had been shattered, he said.

Mr Shah, a former NWFP chief minister, added that first the elected government of Nawaz Sharif was dismissed and now conspiracies "are being hatched to deprive the country of its nuclear capabilities."

He lamented that the government had "started disgracing nuclear scientists" who had given the "gift of atom bomb" to the nation.

According to him, no scientist would now work for the development of nuclear capabilities, given the disgrace their peers have faced.

Mr Shah said the people still held these scientists in high esteem due the deeds they rendered for the aggrandisement of the nation.

He said the government would earn public hatred if the detained scientists were not released immediately.