Upper House Approves Nonproliferation Bill

Pakistan’s parliament passed legislation to halt the transfer of nuclear and biological weapons technology, a move that follows revelations last year that top Pakistani scientists sold such know-how abroad, officials said.

Under the law, any individual who violates government control over nuclear or biological technology, its transfer, production or stockpiling, faces up to 14 years in prison.

The nonproliferation bill was passed by the Senate four days after the National Assembly approved it. It now goes to President Pervez Musharraf, who is expected to sign it into law.