20000131

JJ says decision

on CTBT after

consensus

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Government would not take any decision on the much-discussed issue of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) unless a national consensus is reached.

Advisor to Chief Executive on Media and Public Affairs Javed Jabbar said this on Sunday, while addressing a seminar on 'CTBT and National Consensus' organised by a local Urdu language daily newspaper.

The government, he said had so far not taken a final decision on the CTBT. But every decision in this regard will be taken in the supreme interest of the nation and the country.

He said that the government had decided to evolve national consensus on this sensitive issue through discussions and debates on electronic media, and the first programme in this connection would by aired in a couple of days. The government, he said, would take into account every aspect of national security before taking a final decision on signing the CTBT, he assured the participants of the seminar.

"The government also believes in complete freedom of the press and wants to have a debate on the issue of CTBT through an independent press," Jabbar maintained.

About the nuclear prgramme, he said that the present Government would not compromise on its nuclear capability and this deterrence would be maintained at each and every cost, he said.

He said that defence of the country was the top most priority of the present regime and it would not disappoint the nation. He also paid tributes to the armed forces for bravely defending the frontiers of the country during the Kargil battle.

Speaking on the occasion, Anwarul Haq Ramay of PML said that CTBT was a sensitive issue and was directly linked to the security of Pakistan. Therefore, the government will have to be very careful while taking final decision, he added.

PPP leader Prof Ijazul Hassain arguing in favour of signing CTBT, said that Pakistan had no choice but to sign the document. However, the Government should try to get more economic and strategic benefits in return to signing it, he stated.

Dr. Tahirul Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) said that singing of CTBT would be suicidal, as it would amount to 'surrendering our nuclear deterrence'.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Zahid Khan of ANP, Prof. Abdul Ghafoor of Jamaat-I-Islami and others.