ISLAMABAD, DEC 20: The main opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has dismissed claims of Nawaz Sharif government that the F-16 issue has been resolved to the benefit of Islamabad and termed it as a `serious setback' to country's conventional defence system.PPP deputy secretary general Raza Rabbani told media persons that the settlement deal with the US over the F-16 issue proved the `failure' of the Nawaz Sharif government to obtain full payment or the planes.
He said it was way back in 1995 during the then PM Benazir Bhutto's visit to US that the US had admitted it was unfair to keep both the planes and the money. He further claimed the original amount of over 650 million US dollars, which Pakistan had paid to equip its air force with the then latest fighter aircraft, would now be wasted in either import of wheat or for payment of loans.
``Half of the money would be squandered in wheat supplies and half in payment of loans,'' he said.
Naveed Qamar, a PPP MP, said the government should haveinsisted on full refund and all refunded money should be spent on refurbishing PAF.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.