WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- Opposition parties in Pakistan are accusing the government of building a case against Iran's nuclear program just to please the United States.
Pakistani newspapers reported Saturday opposition parties walked out of parliament after the speaker disallowed a debate on a statement by the country's information minister about Iran's nuclear program.
Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed told reporters Thursday that rogue Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan had secretly sold gas centrifuges to Iran.
The centrifuges are used for producing nuclear fuel and can also be used for enriching weapon-grade uranium.
Opposition parties, and some Pakistani newspaper columnists, allege the statement was designed to give the United States an excuse for attacking Iran's nuclear program.
The United States accuses Iran of secretly working on a project to make nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.
Opposition members in the Pakistani parliament demanded an investigation into the allegation that Khan had sold centrifuges to Iran, saying that they do not trust the information minister.
