KARACHI: The Central Minister for Health, Labour and Social Welfare, Al-Haj Abd-Allah Zaheerudin (Lal Mian), said in Karachi yesterday that “there was no basis” in a report in the foreign Press that Pakistan was supplying modern arms to Nagas to fight against India.

He told journalists that the report was completely false and baseless.

Mr Lal Mian also said that there was no proposal to arrive at a political settlement with the Opposition for getting President Ayub elected unanimously as the Head of the State for a second term.

Asked whether the Ruling Party would be willing to concede to some of the demands incorporated in the Opposition’s nine-point minimum programme to get President Ayub elected uncontested, Mr Lal Mian said the question may be raised by someone at the Working Committee meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League due to be held at Rawalpindi, but the item was not on the agenda.

The Minister stated that there was no proposal to amend the Constitution so that the Ministers could retain their seats in the Assemblies.

In reply to a question, he expressed the hope that the philanthropists would set up another medical college in the city.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014