950818

Nasim, Gul for

conducting N-test

before test-ban

treaty next year

LAHORE: Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, retired chief justice of Supreme Court, and Lt. Gen (Retd) Hameed Gul, said here on Friday that if Pakistan possesses a nuclear device it is high time it were tested.

Speaking at a function organized by Majlis-e-Karkunane Tehrik-e-Pakistan in reference to the Independence Day, Shah said that an international treaty against nuclear testing is going to be signed in 1996 and for this reason several nuclear countries including France and China are testifying their N-aresnal. He argued that once the treaty is signed, Pakistan could have problems in asserting itself as nuclear state.

Gen. (Retd) Gul, in his speech towed the same line and said if Pakistan wants N-capability to act as a deterrence against any foreign aggression, the world should be told in unequivocal terms that Pakistan possesses the device.

Enlarging his thesis, Gen Gul said a bold policy would have its impact on the struggle for liberation in Kashmir which, if suppressed, Pakistan would be surrounded in a pall of dangers. He said Pakistan should lend moral and material help to Kashmir without any inhibitions and pressures of a super power.

Besides these steps, he said a spirit of Jehad be rekindled in the youth which is as necessary as the military prowess. Gul said that India can't have any success by thrusting adventurism on Pakistan and was trying only to intimidate. He said that the policy on Kashmir is being pursued not on the basis of a principle, but on certain fears and weaknesses.

Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, apart from speaking on the subject, strongly supported the idea of women's representation in legislative houses.

Other who addressed the gathering included Justice (Retd) Zaki Uddin Pal, Saad Rafique, Mian Mohammad Zaman, Mian Mohammad Munshi, Ali Mohtishim and Brig. (Retd) Manzoor.-PPI