Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua dismissed the former foreign minister’s statements, saying “The insinuations made against the president … are baseless and strongly refuted.”
She added that after the implementation of the 18th amendment, the president has “nothing to do with [the nuclear] programme and the National Command Authority (NCA), under chairmanship of the prime minister, takes all relevant decisions”.
Janjua also said that the NCA meets frequently to review all matters pertaining to strategic programmes and provide direction for the upgrading of Pakistan’s strategic programme to suit the country’s defence requirements.
“Our policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence will be maintained. Under no circumstances can this national programme‚ which is integral to Pakistan’s defence‚ be compromised,” she said.
The foreign office response followed Qureshi’s comments at a massive rally in Ghotki yesterday, attended by around 40,000 people, where the former Pakistan Peoples Party heavyweight said “today I am going to tell you a most important thing, so listen to me very carefully: Pakistan’s nuclear assets are not safe in the presence of President Zardari” .
The National Command Authority (NCA) consists of the ministers of defence, foreign affairs, interior and finance as well as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee and the three services chiefs. After the passage of the 18th amendment, the authority is headed by the prime minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.
COMMENTS (32)
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@hedgefunder and @MarkH: - So how about commenting on the following article? Read the article but couldn't find your comments?
http://tribune.com.pk/story/299912/nato-lured-by-taliban-into-raid/
Peace :)
@malik: Immigration, you probably won't need one, if you know the entire process and duly fill the application and attached supported documents and above all, you are genuinely eligible for one!
@Syed: Do you know any good immigration lawyers ?
Whoever coined the acronym 'FO' for our Foreign Office is very creative !
That perhaps sums up our philosophy in dealing with the world !
We don't have to explain time & again that our Nukes are in safe hands,because European & American press together with American Administration will keep on saying what they are saying till such time as our Nuclear assets are in their hands & that day will not dawn.
@Irrational: Provide credible evidence..
@MarkH: Neither I have to make you believe :) you seem to ignoring the fact that dropping bombs are as unsafe as anything else. Remember the Wedding Party that was bombed in Afghanistan? Probably not, do your research again before providing piece of @#$% comments.
@hedgefunder: do you have anything else to do in the world except for writing comments on different newspaper and showing your hate? or you are a hired blogger with a job to defame any country let alone Pakistan:) or a frustrated guy sitting in front of computer doing nothing else except for whinning bout everything :)
@hedgefunder and @MarkH: On the other hand if you are such responsible citizen of a country - I don't see any rational comments coming and condemning the same and asking for accountability of Pakistani Politicians and raising your voice against obvious corruption in Pakistan under present govt. rather than providing a piece of unhealthy criticism
Again, Thank you so much for your comments and as they say in civilized or sane world if you can't say something nice or provide sincere advice - keep your mouth shut :)
Pakistan is facing double edge sowrd one hand we have to defend our nukes from Right wing which is so called friendly nations who are unhappy with us this includes our friends and lef wing which are the people who are angry but fact is we can make them we can save them as well.
26 Nov 2011 is linked to 26 Nov 2009
@Syed: You need to read your history in regards to WW2, all over again, as its obvious that you just scrapped the top of it without bothering with the rest!!! For your info, i do comment on WP, NYT,Guardian, Telegraph and Independent too !!
@Syed: Sure, they don't need to convince anyone. Unsafe nukes are a worldwide concern, though. So don't whine if the world chooses safety over their relationship with Pakistan. Both get people killed. It won't be a hard choice.
SMQ showed height of irresponsibility by saying that our nuclear weapons are not safe. Does he not know that since their inception the world is after our nuclear weapons. There should be a fine line between cheap popularity tactics and issuing statements which can put our country's well-being at risk.
Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state, said the spokesperson. . I doubt if anyone outside of Pakistan agrees with that statement and I would like to think that at least some inside Pakistan question where the statement is valid. You were caught selling nuke bomb technology to the likes of Libya, Iran and N Korea and there are reports that you move nuclear bombs around the country in unescorted trucks.
@antanu: Yes sure, but you did'nt think of it, did you??? I suppose you were unaware of these facts !!!!
and how much credible this statements is? the government is making fool of its public. All they have to say to the attacks/breaches is "Government Strongly condemn the attack, it will not allow anyone to breach country's sovereignty" and thats it, why don't they disclose their policy?? same goes for the Army!
Nuclear program was in safe hands and will remain in the safe. Any one should not underestimate people who are protecting Pakistani nuclear program and assets.
After the protective hands, the nation is also standby to protect our nuclear assets.
Until Shah Mahmood Qureshi commented on this, I was thinking that he seems to be a responsible person but his childish remarks have compelled me to change my mind.
I do not know why Imran Khan Chairman PTI wants all the old hawks to join PTI.
If it is for the publicity purpose than it is ok, otherwise change of political parties by political leaders cannot change the mind set of the voters.
Mr. Zardari is President of Pakistan. His patriotism can be judged that he has rejected the appeal of UAE government for not vacating the Shamshi Airbase. Shamshi Airbase is located within the territorial limits of Pakistan, though it was given on lease to UAE.
The government of Pakistan has all the right to cancel the lease of Shamshi Airbase at any moment, keeping in view of Pakistan’s national interest.
I hope that with UAE, things will not get that much worst that Government of Pakistan may ask UAE Ambassador to leave the country and also shut down UAE Embassy and Consulates from Pakistan.
@hedgefunder: you always harp on same points....the points raised by western media...and how credible they are you know very well.
SHah Mahmud Q should not have been dicussing such matters publicly Such important matters are not for open dicussion and Shah should be aware that it is certainly in safe hands which even America accepts it. This is not a good start especially if you are starting in a new party. There are lot more subject you could have discussed about Its fine to target your opponents but dont cross the red lines
@hedgefunder: So what the big deal? more power to Muslims countries and countries standing up to western imperialistic terrorism
and dont tell me USA never proliferated in its history. Israel is prime example having 200+ nuclear, biological and chemical and is a threat to entire 56 Muslim countries
I believe in SMQ more than any other "so-called" leader in pakistan. Khar is just a child in front of SMQ, who is a legend. He is umpteen times more credible and hence when he says nukes are not safe, they certainly are NOT.
Time for the world community to take notice and start bombing the terrorists back to the stone ages. Just a thought, the world leaders may very well make use of these very same nukes to bomb the terrorists back to the stone ages.
shah sb should not indulge in baseless allegation against the president of pakistan.why shah not say about nuclear safety when he itself was foreign minister.shah mehmood has lost his political career.president zardai has no power as he had already transfered powers to the parliament.
Sure, sure, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SMQ was the FM !!
The nukes won't save us from the religious terrorists who are destroying us from within.the nukes are for our external threats,what about the mullah brigade killing pakistani people from within? All this hate,homophobia,misogyny,intolerance of atheists and agnostics is weakening our society from inside,no society built on hate and bigotry can flourish.
Just for some cheap point scoring, the ex-foreign minister said that nukes aren’t safe. Just pathetic
Is this the FO of Pakistan or the president house???