LAHORE, May 21: The PML-N has chalked out a five-day programme to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the nuclear tests carried out on May 28, 1998, on a decision taken by then prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. Various PML-N leaders alleged at a news conference here on Saturday that the present rulers had rolled back the nuclear programme, keeping the nation in the dark.

While celebrating the achievement which made Pakistan a nuclear power, Inamullah Khan Niazi said the PML-N would simultaneously protest at taking the nuclear programme back to the 1973-74 level.

He said the missiles tested after 1999 had been designed during the Sharif government and the present rulers could not be credited for them.

Mr Niazi said that Yaum-i-Takbeer would be celebrated in all districts of Punjab. In Lahore, he said, the celebrations would start on May 25 with an event at the Lahore Press Club. The following day, another event would be held at the Karachi Hall of the Lahore High Court building. The same day, a public meeting would be held at the residence of Mujtaba Shuja.

The labour wing would organize a function on May 27. In the afternoon, a meeting would be held at Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor’s farm in Raiwind.

Party’s women wing has organized an event for May 28 which would be held at the party’s provincial secretariat. In the evening, a ceremony would be held at the residence of Mian Marghoob.

Party’s central finance secretary Pervaiz Malik said the May 23 all-party conference being hosted by the PML-N would help the party gather all democratic forces on a platform and channelize their energies for the restoration of what he called constitutional rule.

He demanded that the government should give relief to poor people in the new year’s budget, scheduled to be announced on June 6. In case the rulers failed, he said, the people would show a strong reaction.

Referring to President Musharraf’s statement that he wanted the Kashmir dispute settled during his tenure, the PML-N leader said this showed the general was in haste.

Naseer Bhutta, Haji Hanif and Rana Arshad were also present at the news conference.