950804

Brown Amendment

in Pressler law

may be delayed

WASHINGTON: The proposed Brown Amendment in the Defence Appropriation Bill relaxing Pressler sanctions on arms delivery to Pakistan may be further delayed due to protracted debate on the pre-scheduled amendments in the bill, US Senate sources here said.

The amendment is likely to come up for discussion later Friday evening (early hours of morning in Pakistan), the sources said.

Intense behind-the-scene lobbying continued through late Thursday night and Friday morning by supporters and opponents of the amendment. Senator Larry Pressler who is leading the opposition to any changes in his legislation which targeted only Pakistan for sanctions because of its nuclear programme was reportedly fighting to obstruct the debate on the Brown Amendment.

Pressler has moved his own amendment to subvert the Brown initiative. He has proposed blocking all military sales or arms transfers to any country which has close relations with Iran. Pakistan is not specifically named but the intent is obvious. Pressler further demanded that the mover and opponents of the Brown Amendment be given equal time.-APP