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Friday congregations pledge for safety of N-programme

Recorder report

LAHORE: On the call of different religious and political parties, Friday, January 7, 2000, was observed as the day to pledge for protecting the nuclear programme of Pakistan at all costs from the enemies.

The faithful and workers of these parties, at Juma-tul-Wida congregations, urged the government to refuse surrendering to the pressure of the western countries for signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as, they claimed, the people of Pakistan would never tolerate the signing of this treaty or any bid to roll back the nuclear programme of Pakistan.

According to a press release issued by the media office of Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan, Ulema and Khateeb described the atomic programme as guarantee for protection of the country.

After Juma prayers, the faithful offered special prayers for solidarity and stability of Pakistan, protection of nuclear programme and for the well-being of Muslims facing oppression all over the world.

The Ulema in their sermons also appreciated the verdict against interest and urged the government to respect this decision and act upon the schedule given by the court in this regard.

The chief of Jamat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussein Ahmed, addressing a Friday congregation at Jamia Mansoora here said that Pakistan achieved glory in nuclear programme after a long planning and rendering countless sacrifices. He said that it was the duty of the rulers to protect this programme with courage and not to go for signing the CTBT.

He claimed that the logic that signing the treaty would make no difference was nothing but to hoodwink the nation. He said that if signing really did not make any difference then why USA was not signing it.

A resolution was unanimously adopted at Mansoora mosque warning the government that the nation would not tolerate signing the treaty and it might result in creation of a gulf between the people and the army, consequently posing threat to both the country and the army.