27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Jan 26: The Pakistan Democratic Party on Monday strongly protested against the government's alleged U-turn on the decades old Kashmir policy, saying the enemies of Pakistan were celebrating the shift and showering praise on Gen Musharraf to encourage him to stay on the course.

Party's senior vice-president Rana Nazarur Rehman said at a news conference that the somersault was against the national interests. Information secretary Khwaja Izhar was also present on the occasion.

Mr Rehman said the entire nation felt upset over the way the nuclear scientists were being disgraced. He said the role of the MMA was dubious as it was attacking the government for subjecting the nuclear scientists on the one hand and on the other it had opposed a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly on the same subject.

He said MMA vice-president Qazi Husain Ahmad owed an explanation to the nation. The PDP leader opposed the permission to kite-fliers, saying the law did not allow anyone to involve himself in an activity which threatened the life of somebody else.

He said increase in prices of essential commodities and unprecedented corruption had made the life of the common man miserable. Mr Rehman demanded that the NAB should have its organization at the district level as well to weed out corruption.