09 February 2004	Monday	17 Zilhaj 1424

NOWSHERA, Feb 8: Acting chief of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad said on Sunday the US and the UK had trapped Gen Pervez Musharraf on the nuclear proliferation issue.

Speaking at public gatherings in Dag Ismailkhel and Speen Khak during a visit to his constituency here, Qazi Hussain said the US and the UK had stepped up pressure on Gen Musharraf by demanding that the findings of the debriefing of nuclear scientists should be made public.

The allegations about transfer of nuclear technology to other countries and Gen Musharraf's statements against scientists had not only posed dangers to the country's nuclear programme, it also provided anti-Islam forces an opportunity to trap Gen Musharraf, the JI Amir said and added that these forces would build pressure on Gen Musharraf to either rollback the nuclear programme or hand it over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Qazi Hussain said Gen Musharraf disgraced national heroes and architects of the country's nuclear programme just to save his skin. America and its allies used Gen Musharraf to achieve their ends and they would abandon him as soon as their plans were realized, he added.

The MMA chief said though the United States had appreciated the action taken against the scientists and accepted the government's decision to pardon Dr A.Q. Khan, the fate of the nuclear programme still hanged in the balance.

He asked what excuse would President Pervez Musharraf give to the US if the Bush administration or any future US government asked for the submission of vital information on Pakistan's nuclear facility.

He said US Secretary of State Colin Powell asked Gen Musharraf during their half-hour telephonic conversation to make public findings of the debriefing process.