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ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday said that Benazir Bhutto's recent statement reflected 'the thoughts and aspirations of an enemy rather than a friend of Pakistan.'

Responding to PPP's leader's statement about nuclear proliferation, the Minister said that 'the whole world was convinced that neither Pakistani government nor Pakistan Army was involved in nuclear proliferation but she is insisting on the allegation which nobody believes.'

'The rhetoric by Benazir Bhutto reflects the desperation in which she is due to people friendly policies of the present government and the way it protected the national assets,' he stressed.

'Lust for Power'

The Minister said that 'instead of appreciating and siding with Pakistan on the most vital national security issue, Benazir Bhutto is passionately involved in the game of political point scoring in her lust for power.'

'But she must understand that according to Constitution of Pakistan she could not become Prime Minister for the third time', the Minister argued.

Nuclear Roll Back

Rashid further added that Benazir Bhutto should also be mindful of the fact that it was during her tenure when Pakistan's national interest was compromised and she ordered to roll back nuclear programme by reducing enrichment of uranium from weapon grade (90 percent) to 5 percent.

He said that being twice at the helm of affairs, the ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan miserably failed to protect the national interest and honestly dispense with the duties bestowed upon her as custodian of national exchequer and the country.

Minimum Deterrence

Sheikh Rashid said that 'President Pervez Musharraf had time and again said that Pakistan would continue to develop the nuclear capability in line with its minimum deterrence.'

'Pakistan's nuclear programme is here to stay and, being a vital national security interest, will never be compromised.'

The Minister said, 'the most regrettable of all her accusations is her appeal to Western countries not to economically support Pakistan. This belies her claims of an Awami (Public) Leader and truly she has no love for people of Pakistan but only lust for power.'

National Exchequer

The Minister was of the view that 'people of Pakistan are aware of the facts that how the national exchequer dried up during the PPP's government and how personal accounts of its leaders in Swiss banks had swollen.'

Sheikh Rashid said, 'PPP leader is so obsessed with her opposition to the government that she is criticizing our efforts to eliminate extremism and fundamentalism from our society. This is a policy which should be pursued above the political divide as it is based on Pakistan's principle stand to ensure peace and security in the country.'