THOUSANDS of East Lancashire Muslims may set up a cash fighting fund to help Pakistan combat crippling sanctions in the fallout from the country's nuclear tests.

Despite international condemnation of the tit-for-tat response to India's own atomic tests, Burnley Asian community leader Rafique Malik today welcomed the Pakistan response which had headed off turmoil and Government-threatening civil unrest, which would have occurred had no action been taken to even the score.

He said he had already received several calls from local Asians offering cash for health and social aid for the people of the country, who would suffer terribly from the economic and aid sanctions threatening the country.

Coun Malik, secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said an aid fund from British Muslims was a real possibility. "There is no doubt that sanctions and the undoubted withdrawal of investment which will follow will hurt the ordinary people of Pakistan and they must be helped," he said.

Coun Malik said the Pakistan response was entirely understandable, even though it would result in hardship.

"I welcome it in the sense that it will create stability in Pakistan.

"But I think it is an horrific race in the nuclear field and enough testing is enough. There should be no more."

He said the lack of real condemnation and reprisals following the Indian underground tests had shown grave weakness in the United Nations and the international community and had forced Pakistan's hand.

He called on countries to work to resolve the Kasmir problems which were prompting the nuclear race in the region.

"If that matter can be settled, there would be no need for the nuclear build-up," he added.

Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today expressed his 'dismay' over the Pakistan tests.

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