Pak. not to sign CTBT without consensus

By Amit Baruah

ISLAMABAD, JULY 1. The Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said today that Islamabad would not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) unilaterally and without obtaining a national consensus.

The Chief Executive was quoted as saying at Uthal near Karachi that Pakistan would develop a national consensus before signing the treaty.

``Whether India signs it (the CTBT) or not we will take a decision according to our national requirements,'' he said.

Gen. Musharraf also said that Pakistan was planning to buy F-7 MG jets from China. ``Our airforce needs more planes and we are certainly dealing with China to purchase them,'' he added.

Devolution of power

PTI reports:

In the light of Gen. Musharraf's directives, the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) has started contacting politicians for devolution of power and establishment of district Governments.

The NRB chief, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Tanvir Hussain Naqvi, held meetings with the deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League leader, Mr. Ijazul Haq, and Mr. Makhdoom Amin Fahim of the Peoples Party. He was likely to contact more politicians in the next few days, reports said. The consultation process will be completed by August 2001.

Gen. Musharraf also plans to meet what he calls `clean politicians' in July. The NRB chief said in a meeting with presspersons here on Friday that the Government would contact only `clean politicians' and not the political parties to seek their views.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Joshi's Moscow visit to boost scientific
           cooperation
Next     : Palestine boom beckons India