``When the world is getting into the 21st century, no step should be taken that is retrogressive'' Vajpayee said. The PM's off-the-cuff observation was prefaced by the remark. ``This is Pakistan's internal affair, I don't want to discuss it'' when he was asked for his reaction to developments in Pakistan.

Vajpayee felt that whatever happened in Pakistan was bound to have its impact on Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics.

The manner in which the PM's press secretary Ashok Tandon sought to hastily cut short Vajpayee's interaction with the media party aboard the aircraft suggests that officials of the Ministry of External Affairs feared that the PM might have spoken out of turn just before another round of Indo-Pakistan talks during the NAM meet in South Africa.

The ministry later issued a toned down version of what the PM actually said.Earlier, Vajpayee admitted that the absence of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Durban would be an ``obstacle'' in the on-going talks between the two countries. Before the cancellation plans were declared, Sharif had accepted an invitation for breakfast with Vajpayee in South Africa.

The Prime Minister clarified that Sharif's absence would not hinder the continuing discussions between representatives of India and Pakistan. The new Pakistan foreign minister would be present and the foreign secretary-level talks on both sides would be held.

Commenting on the disappointing end to the Colombo bilateral discussions Vajpayee said that while on a personal basis he felt that Sharif and he had established a rapport, no tangible progress was made in resolving disputes between the two neighbours.

Meanwhile, reports from Durban say officials from India and nearly 100 non-aligned countries today began discussions on the agenda for the NAM summit amidst indications that Pakistan would raise the contentious Kashmir issue at the meet beginning here next week. The preparatory session began with a call from south African foreign minister Alfred Nzo that the 113-nation movement must broaden its vision to play relevant role in the 21st century.

Pakistan foreign minister Sartaj Aziz, leading his country's delegation in absence of Sharif, is expected to raise the contentious Kashmir issue at the summit beginning on September two.

Groundswell of oppn to Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif's move to declare the Koran and the Sunnah as the supreme law of Pakistan came in for sharp criticism with the opposition, human rights groups and the media describing it as ``misuse of Islam'', and an attempt to grab ``absolute powers''. Chief of the country's largest religious group, Jamat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, also questioned Sharif's sincerity in implementing Islamic laws saying ``Supporters of tyrants and interest-based economy cannot enforce Shariah in the country.''Pointing out that promises to implement the Shariah had been made by successive governments in the last 51 years but never fulfilled, he said, ``Whenever the rulers are in a fix, they start talking Islam and the Shariah''.The local media also came down hard on the government's decision saying ``it is an attempt by the political establishment to arrogate sweeping powers to itself'' amidst increasing political isolation and multiple failures.

In an editorial, `Towards absolute power', leading English daily The News said, ``Too often in the past Islam has been used as a political tool'' as human rights groups expressed fears the new law would be used to ``harm interests of women, working people and the minorities.''

In a joint statement, 16 civil rights bodies, including several NGOs, also expressed shock and anger at the move and called for a united front to defeat the proposed measures that represent a threat to ``civil society''.``We are convinced the proposed amendment if adopted, will irretrievably harm interests of state and society, especially women, working people and minorities,'' they said condemning it ``as a blatant and shameful attempt to exploit religion for petty political gain.''

The daily said the law would ``establish an absolute ruler with unchallengeable and unaccountable powers'', and objected to a key clause that says government will decide ``what is right and forbid what is wrong''.Another English daily, The Muslim, in a front page comment said ``Sharif is taking refuge behind Islam to give weight to his sagging image and fast eroding credibility''.

It recalled a gruesome incident in 1981 in Karachi during Zia-ul-Haq's term when a baby was stoned to death by the maulvi's order as it was illegitimate, and said ``Sharif has thrown the country once again into the laps of such clerics.''

Pro-establishment English daily, The Nation, also slammed the announcement saying it would give ``sweeping powers to the government'' allowing it to do whatever it liked.

Quoting lawyers, it said, once the bill is passed, ``government will be empowered to disregard, or suspend any judgement of any court through an executive order'', to detriment of civil rights and liberties.