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Army government passes law to protect nuclear installations

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January 23, 2001 

ISLAMABAD-- (AP) - Pakistan, one of the world's newest nuclear weapons' states, introduced a new law Monday that establishes a nuclear regulatory authority designed to ensure the safety of its nuclear installations.

The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, established by the military government that rules Pakistan, will issue licenses for the production, storage, disposal and trade in nuclear and radioactive substances, according to the new law.

It also will hand out punishments to anyone who defies its authority, trades illegally in nuclear or radioactive material.

The ordinance that established this regulatory authority was brought into effect by Pakistan's president, whose role is largely ceremonial, but who signs off on all laws. The author of this law, however, is the army, which has ruled Pakistan since an October 1999 coup ousted the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif.

At the time the international community said it did not anticipate any major changes in Pakistan's nuclear program, because the military had largely been in control of the nuclear program even under a civilian government.

Pakistan and India became the world's newest nuclear powers when they conducted tit-for-tat nuclear explosions in May 1998.

The two hostile neighbors say they possess a minimum nuclear deterrent, although it isn't known what that means in terms of numbers or kinds of weapons.

Both South Asian neighbors possess missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads deep within each other's territory.

The international community, which does not know how much nuclear weapons making material either country possesses, has urged both India and Pakistan to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

So far both have refused. They have also refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, although both countries say they will not be the first to conduct another nuclear test.

Pakistan's new law also sets out the criteria for inspections, nuclear research and development. It says any infraction of the law will result in immediate jail, without bail.

The new Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority will be responsible to the federal government, which would indicate it will be under civilian authority after the army relinquishes power.

The army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said he will return Pakistan to democratic rule by the end of 2002, in keeping with a Supreme Court order.