ISLAMABAD Jan 29: The Pakistan Professional Forum (PPF) on Thursday staged a peaceful demonstration in the capital to express solidarity with detained nuclear scientists.

The demonstrators carrying placards demanded an immediate release of all detained nuclear scientists and an apology from the government to the families of scientists.

A statement issued by the PPF at the end of the demonstration said: "Nuclear programme is indispensable organ of Pakistan's national security." Pakistani nation, for the last three decades, has been contributing to the country's nuclear programme in the form of taxes paid to the government despite severe economic hardships, it said.

"The programme has been the target of negative propaganda by the hostile countries and Western media right from its inception. The latest allegations of the nuclear proliferation are part of the same negative media campaign that is designed for the purpose of depriving Pakistan of its most vital strategic asset and to force Pakistani nation into subjugation," the statement said.

The participants, mostly professionals from the civil society, protested against the government attitude which, they said, had sent shock waves among Pakistani intellectuals at home and abroad.