Political leadership of Pakistan across the board has played critical role in making Pakistan a nuclear power and Youm-e-Takbir is a national day of honour and pride, said Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq. While addressing Youm-e-Takbir ceremony organised by Islamabad Bar Council here on Tuesday, senior Pakistan Muslim League leader Raja Zafarul Haq said all political leaderships had offered countless sacrifices to achieve the goal.
He said on May 11, 1998, India with its nuclear tests had disturbed the balance of power in the South Asian region. He appreciated the efforts and services offered by scientists, engineers and political leaders who made this dream true. There was a surge in the aggressive designs of India as it not only showed its intentions of sending armed forces to Azad Kashmir, with converging of army on the Line of Control, but its defence minister also announced that the Indian army would be armed with the nuclear weapons, he maintained.
"Under such nerves-wrecking situation, Pakistan took the decision, and by the grace of Almighty Allah, on May 28, 1998 it became a nuclear power," he added. India is a nuclear power, but they could not dare attack Pakistan, he said adding the people of Pakistan would continue its support with Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.
Now, the economic blasts would take place in the country after the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which would lead the country to the path of progress, he said. For the betterment of the country and the nation, the system must be run according to the Constitution, he added. Separately, addressing another event in connection with Youm-e-Takbir, Pakistan Muslim League Secretary Information Marriyam Aurangzeb grilled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government over continued poor economic situation. She said that the all those nations which had achieved social and economic developments gave respect to vote. She said that over the past nine months Imran Khan-led set-up had brought destruction to the every sector of the economy.
She alleged, "The government snatched bread from the mouth of the people in its first nine months as per its promise and now it has closed stoves of people in the sacred month of Ramzan." On May 28, 1998, responding to Indian nuclear tests, Pakistan carried out five successful nuclear tests in Chagai, Balochistan, followed by another nuclear test on 30th May in Kharan. After these nuclear tests, Pakistan became seventh nuclear power of the world and first in the Muslim world.