June 29, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 13, 1428

HARIPUR, June 28: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chairman Raja Zafarul Haq has said that all the seven states possessing nuclear weapons had sought assistance from other powers for developing the capability but the way in which President Pervez Musharraf had admitted to it in his book had virtually landed the country in the dock.

Talking to newsmen at the residence of provincial PML-N chief Pir Sabir Shah on Thursday, Mr Haq said the policies of rulers on the issue were in contravention of the national interest.

He opposed United States lawmakers’ demand of seeking access to nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan for investigation into alleged nuclear proliferation.

Commenting on the demand, he said not even Israel had ever admitted to gaining help from outside for its nuclear programme and Gen Musharraf’s statements in his book had serious repercussions for the country.

About the judicial crisis, the PML-N leader said the days of the rulers were numbered and the undemocratic rule would end and true democracy would return after fair elections and restoration of the Constitution in the shape it was before Oct 12, 1999.

He said the opposition parties had agreed on three points of opposing re-election of Gen Musharraf from the present assemblies, return of exiled leadership and free and fair elections.

He said 20 million citizens had not been registered as voters and added that the government would have to spend Rs1 billion to entertain claim by the new voters. He said the government might delay the elections on this pretext, which would not be in the interest of the country. “They are planning to apply the same formula as used by the rulers of Bangladesh but we will not allow them to do so,” he said.

He expressed the hope that the Jamia Hafsa issue would be resolved shortly. Mr Haq had gone to Shataloo Sharif, Sirikot, to attend the valima of Sahibzada Seyed Ahmed Shah, nephew of Sabir Shah. NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, District Nazim Yousaf Ayub Khan, leaders of the PML-N and the People’s Party Parliamentarians and elected representatives attended the function.