ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: Acting parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that the entire nation is in a state of shock due to the recent developments on the nuclear front and accused President Gen Pervez Musharraf of putting the country's nuclear programme in danger.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, the PML-N leader criticized Gen Musharraf's statement that he had steered the country out of crisis and that the issue of nuclear proliferation had been resolved. "The nuclear crisis has just begun," he claimed.

He claimed that after Gen Musharraf's statements Pakistan had become a laughing stock all over the world. Chaudhry Nisar said today the nation felt much the same way as it had after the East Pakistan tragedy.

The PML-N leader said he was a special assistant to the prime minister during 1990-1993 and was aware of several developments regarding Pakistan's nuclear programme but he did not divulge anything concerning these developments.

He said those who were responsible for the East Pakistan tragedy and had abrogated the Constitution were never asked to apologize to the nation. He said the government comprising "criminals" had no right to declare Dr A.Q. Khan a criminal.

Moreover, he said if the charges against Dr Khan were correct then he had committed an international crime and Gen Musharraf had no authority to pardon him.

Chaudhry Nisar claimed that the country's nuclear programme was in danger and feared that soon Pakistan would have to allow the international nuclear agencies access to its nuclear installations. He said Gen Musharraf had exposed the country's nuclear programme before enemies and people were not ready to believe his claims.

In reply to a question, the PML-N leader said India's nuclear programme was also covert and everybody knew that Russia had helped it in developing its nuclear programme. He said nobody questioned South Africa or Israel for developing their nuclear programmes.

Replying to another question, he claimed that Dr Khan was pressured to issue a confessional statement and was threatened that he could be handed over to international agencies if he refused to comply.

Chaudhry Nisar said the US had not only taken the responsibility of Gen Musharraf's personal security, it was also helping Gen Musharraf in his "public relations affairs." He claimed that a top US official, who had played an important role in the election campaign of President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney was in Pakistan at present and staying at a five-star hotel in Islamabad, formulating an image-building campaign for Gen Musharraf.

Refuting Gen Musharraf's allegations that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif delayed the formation of the National Command Authority, he said soon after nuclear tests the Defence Cabinet Committee had recommended formation of a chain of command and at that time Gen Musharraf was not even the army chief.

He also refuted the claim of Gen Musharraf that prime ministers were not aware of the developments made with regard to the country's nuclear programme. He said in the same press conference Gen Musharraf himself had contradicted his statement when he said that Benazir Bhutto rolledback the nuclear programme by reducing the uranium enrichment level. Moreover, he said, if the prime ministers were not involved in the process then from where did they (the KRL) get financing and money for the programme.

Replying to another question about the opposition's future strategy, the PML-N leader said the opposition parties would hold a meeting in the next few days to finalize their plan to mobilize public opinion.

He said the opposition would soon requisition the National Assembly where it would raise the nuclear issue and seek a debate.