AQ Khan Walks - February 06, 2009
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb and a central figure in a major nuclear smuggling ring, has been freed.
A brief order issued on 6 February by the Islamabad High Court released the 72-year-old metallurgist from house arrest. Khan had been confined since 2004, after confessing to selling Pakistani nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.
Khan's freedom has gradually returned over the past year or so. While he remains a pariah in the West, he enjoys overwhelming public support in Pakistan, where he is revered as a national hero. He has given a few interviews in recent months, and even started his own website.
It's a little unclear what happens next. The government has asked Khan to let them know if he's planning any domestic travel, and there's no word on whether he'll be able to take trips abroad. In interviews he says he's done with smuggling and will devote the remainder of his life to education.
Comments
Surely, Dr A.Q. Khan is one of the leading scientist of all times for Pakistan, not only provided a strength to the Nation & their defense in term of developing the Nuclear bomb but also lay down the basis for coming generation to follow his vision of scientific development in third world countries like Pakistan.
May be, Dr. A.Q. Khan is responsible for nuclear technology propagation to other countries, but not true in this case as this is so common in Pakistan that “sacrifice yourself to save the nation and country” but with driven forces of politicians and foreign invasion. This is very inappropriate to mention him as a nuclear technology smuggler and to violate human rights especially when he is 72 years old man with a lot of family members and friends.
Pakistani judiciary has taken a well decision to let him spend his remaining life as a free citizen, National hero and to serve nation through his current vision to serve the education sector in Pakistan. Only thing is that government should take steps to ensure high possible level of security to Dr. A. Q. Khan to avoid any possible nuclear proliferation in view of foreign obligations. I wish him ever success for his vision.
Posted by: Ibrar-ul-Hassan Akhtar | February 11, 2009 03:56 AM
Re. Nuclear weapons in 3rd
world countries
It is amazing to witness the furore in Western countries in connection with nuclear weapons/capability developed by eg. Pakistan,
Iran.
A number of 1st world countries (incl. Israel) have large nuclear arsenals, but this fact seems to be completely overlooked, or is deemed irrelevant.
The USA is reportedly replenishing its nuclear
stockpile !
Posted by: Sulaiman Martheze | February 11, 2009 07:17 AM