Senate passes N-Exports Control bill

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Saturday passed a bill to control the export of technology and material related to nuclear and biological weapons. The bill will not apply to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and his aides, who were involved in the transfer of nuclear technology to foreign countries. The opposition rejected the bill and questioned why it was being passed in haste. It claimed the process was being unnecessarily expedited because of President General Pervez Musharraf’s upcoming visit to the United States. Foreign Affairs Minister Khurshid Kasuri stated that the new law would not apply to the nuclear scientists already censured for nuclear proliferation. The foreign minister rejected the opposition’s accusation that the bill would help President General Pervez Musharraf win the confidence of the United States, thus making it easier to stretch his rule. “Pakistan is an independent country and always acts in its best national interests,” he said, adding that the bill was not introduced because of external pressure. The opposition argued that the bill confers special powers to some people, who may abuse their positions. It added that military officers would take advantage of Sub-section 3 of the bill, which should be deleted. It asked the government to first punish those who were involved in nuclear proliferation, then pass the bill. BNP leader Sanaullah Baloch demanded that Dr AQ Khan and his aides be punished. Referring to General Musharraf’s decision to pardon Dr Khan, Mr Baloch said the international community would not believe the bill would control nuclear exports. MMA leader Professor Ghafoor Ahmed said Dr Khan was not convicted by any court of law. He said he and the other nuclear scientists were innocent. He said no country, including the US, followed UNSC Resolution 1540, to prepare internal laws against nuclear exports. PPPP’s Raza Rabbani accused the government of introducing the bill only to appease Bush. MMA leader Maulana Samiul Haq said that the bill was part of “the agenda of anti-Islamic forces to eliminate Pakistan’s nuclear capability”. “Our (nuclear) bomb is for peace. Had we not possessed nuclear capability, India would have destroyed us,” he added. PPPP member Farooq Naik argued that there was no need to form special boards and designating agencies under the bill. President Musharraf signed the bill later on Saturday, Online reported, making it an act of parliament. staff report

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