Pak. for lifting of sanctions soon

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 6. Pakistan today hoped that the U.S. would not have a differentiated approach on the question of sanctions imposed as a result of 1998 nuclear tests and called for their removal as soon as possible, according to a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman.

He was responding to a question here at a press conference about the recent reported statement by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage.

In an interview Mr. Armitage was quoted as saying that there was much work to be done to build political support for lifting the U.S. sanctions against Pakistan. He had also indicated that U.S. administration could be heading towards lifting sanctions against India.

``We as a matter of principle are opposed to sanctions,'' he said. Pakistan did not initiate nuclear tests in 1998. We only responded to establish deterrence, restore strategic balance and remove any ambiguity about our nuclear capability, he said.

PoK poll

The Muslim Conference led by the former Prime Minister and the President, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, has captured power in the Legislative Assembly of the Pak-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) by winning 22 out of the 40 seats.

The People's Party affiliated to the party led by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ms. Benazir Bhutto, has bagged only 14 seats.

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Section  : International
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