“I have great affection for this city,” said Khan while addressing a gathering at the Punjab University (PU) on Wednesday. He, however, did not specify whether he would contest for the provincial assembly or the national one.
Khan was invited by the PU administration to address students, faculty members and employees of the university.
Continuing with his praise for the youth, and a veiled hint towards two Lahore based political parties who are increasingly hedging their bets for the next election on Pakistan's single largest population component, Khan said that “if one has sincere and dedicated team members like you, one can defeat anybody.”
The PU’s Faisal Auditorium, where Khan spoke, was packed with students, teachers and guests. The security arrangements were done by a special squad which is responsible for Khan’s security and nobody without a permission letter was allowed to access to the venue.
Appreciating the pace of development in Punjab, Khan said that “Shahbaz Sharif is an energetic politician and works hard. I would advise Nawaz Sharif to let Shahbaz handle all the political matters alone.”
Recollecting his correspondence with Zulfikhar Ali Bhutto regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program after India had conducted its first nuclear test in '74, Khan recalled telling then Prime Minister Bhutto in a letter that Pakistan would not survive for another 10 years if necessary counter actions are not taken. “I was an unknown scientist, however Bhutto sahab trusted me and paid attention to my letter. He called me and I proposed some ideas to him,” Khan recalled.
Khan further said he was not in Pakistan during this time and when he came back in 1975, he realised that the nuclear program had made no progress at all. “I informed Bhutto sahab about this, who took notice and then asked me to live in Pakistan to oversee the work,” Khan said.
COMMENTS (36)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I wish that Abdul Qadeer Khan joins pml n and he has given his personal view regarding Mian nawaz sharif and Mian shahbaz sharif which should be taken as a criticism nor it has been taken by anyone in the Sharif family seriously
I strongly condemn te remarks of ABC who proved unknown completely with the Islamic forms and requirements to protect ourselves from the enemies. Muslims are asked always ready to be in war against the Kuffars. Such remarks cannot come from a true Pakistani. Dr. Sahib is Hero forever, and his services not only to Pakistan but also to Muslim World will always be remembered.
dr, khan says right k jtne mnafqat is qaum me hai shaid kisi m ho, if he would not make pakistan an atomic power then his life would be millions of times better than this, he would be a very respectful man of european society where even pet animals are given due respect...........so as he had done this for the cause of islamic nation and because of his faith in almighty Allah so he will recieve his return from his God.........i attended the speech of dr sahib he was saying these words just to descride the affection of young students for him ....he gave us hope and there are still a lot of his lovers any unknown cant say that he is a scientist just be shameful of your thoughts (in response of above comment), i saw lovers of dr. sahib having tears in their eyes when he was in front of us........we all true muslims love dr Abdul Qadeer khan because he is an honest man, what he has taken from us he had just given us, he could make money as he was an educated man and a rare one with that qualities in the world..........
I would ve been proud of you and your science if you had nt made a weapon of mass destruction, which by the way is completely prohibited in Islam, and had focussed on trying to find cure for diseases, for food and health issues and of course controlling the population bomb. That would ve infinitely won all the laurels for you. But of course, you went on to make bomb, make money and now making it in politics. We, the scientists, are truly ashamed of people like you.
Can easily become president.
This man is a hero of every Pakistani, and we stand by you sir whenever you need us. May Allah give you health and happy long life. Ameen
I wonder and suggest Dr. AQK to refrain yourself from the politics and don't try to swim in the dirty water. You are dynamic personality and have a lot of respect. You were quite young when MATHER-E-WATAN "Fatima Jinnah" was also pushed by some foolish politicians (of course Leagues) to participate in Election, and what was the result? Just think MATHER-E-WATAN ko aik Dictator kay hathon in Muslim Leaguon nay Harwaya. MATHRE WATAN kay Khalaf Sharamnak Sazhis. You really deserve to be a President of Pakistan if the winning party realy respects a great person. However, if you love to have a taste of politics, then you have to think a party or a person who kept US and Europeans away from you, otherwise you might not be with us today. Even did not allow USA to ask directly a question or access to their media. Or contact with PTI.
Dr. Sahib if you plan to join a political party please join Imran khan PTI and then do contest the election. We wii support you whole heartedly.
Is he going to join gang of thugs(PML-N)?gotta be kidding...he can have his own new political force and party.I am confuse....
Where is the part of his speech indicating his 'desire' to contest an election? ET guys you rock!!
He said that From the peoples reaction to him he was tempted to stand for election. He did not mean literally. On Politics he did how ever say that Shahbaz should take over PML n, and Nawaz retire to his business. Which is sage advice. And "Islamic Bomb".Are there any editors here. Absurd double speak and Orwellian terms and pruning of the comment section Ja accuse
It will be a very controversial move by D. Khan. If he joins a poltical party, he will lose all respect and if he contests election as an independent candidate, he will be of no use. During last presidential election, he asked some parties for nomination but no party or elected member considered his request. He is also a very old person and has become very unstable. One more point, he should not trust PU students and poltical party which rules PU. They disrepected Dr. Salam and have insulted our great Khan in the past. They can harm Dr. Khan too.
@Rationalist: How could A. Q. Khan and Gen Mush and his allies be both right? One of them have to be wrong.
I guess the Hon. Dr Qadeer Sahab is unaware of the Sasti roti, yellow cab, Laptop Scandals and the Danish school scam. I am not from Lahore but whichever constituency you get elected from, those people will be very fortunate to be represented by a inspirational and Honest man like you.
@Muhammad Abdul Qadoos: how u r relating Fatima Jinnah with AQ khan?? what a poor analogy
@Acorn Guts:
"A convicted kingpin of nuclear proliferation network that may have condemned our future generations to a glorious death by mushroom cloud now wants to run the elections? Can’t my country be run by dedicated politicians instead of convicted criminals, corrupt looters, people with inflated self-esteem and illiterate landlords?"
Khan is a patriot. He was made to be the fall guy for the army which was the real nuclear proliferator. On the other hand, if you are against all nuclear weapons, I am with you.
After making contributions toward the bombs, can these nuclear scientists please please take care of our electricity problem? The amount of water is not going to increase in our rivers and the price of gas and oil are not going to be cheap again. The nuclear know how is the logical area where we can make some progress. Isn't it time that we use our knowledge and money for the betterment of civilians? I am not opposing anybody only addressing a burning problem of the nation that needs immediate attention.
I would recommend all sincere and conscientious scientific workers, I mean nuclear scientists, who worked for the glory of the Nation and not only a few ones i,e, the leaders like the Dr. Khan Sahib. and few others normally mentioned in the press and every where, to come forward and join the political parties of their choice and help to build the Nation on real scientific grounds.
I have been compelled to write this after I heard a news items just now on a TV channel quoting Dr. Khan Sahib saying that Nawaz Sharif had no mind. I feel such personal remarks must be avoided and Dr. Khan Sahib must take these words back in case he had really uttered these words.
I feel, though the Atomic Energy had been a success story in the eyes of every one here, people know nothing about the underhand follies committed by these well known scientists. To me some of us did the same for which we are now blaming the politicians. Thus my above recommendation is for those bench workers who believe in commitment and working with local technologies with their own hands rather than celebrated politician scientists.
i damn sure Sir then u will represent Lahore in the parliament....and i really appreciate if u could do so.....v ll owe u big time for this
@Pakistan politics Fatima Jinnah was failed to win election:)
and Dr AQ Khan Shell not contest for election. he deserves to be President of Pakistan for Life.
you are the father of this nation so please come out and runied all the politicians just like you people crashed the bad aims of India after making Atomic bomb. Allah Bless You .
In a country where fatima jinnah lost in election he doesnt stand a chance sorry.:P
A convicted kingpin of nuclear proliferation network that may have condemned our future generations to a glorious death by mushroom cloud now wants to run the elections? Can't my country be run by dedicated politicians instead of convicted criminals, corrupt looters, people with inflated self-esteem and illiterate landlords?
I think Dr. Khan got off lightly and he should be thankful for that instead of rubbing it in.
@Trapeze Swinger: No way he'll join PML-N (nor PPP), as he textually accused the leaders of both parties (Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif) to be involved in massive corruption in his recent article, "All of a kind" (released a bit more one week ago, 23th April), and that's what he says at the end:
So his only credible option would be Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. :)
ET writer, reporter,s and editors,
What do you mean by Islamic Bomb? I know you guys work for a US media agency, Tribune, but if this paper is printed in Pakistan then won't it be nice to not use terms like 'Islamic Bomb' that were common in the US, for reasons you may pretend not to know, during the 80s.
thank you.
I'm from Khi and nearly in touch with 100 of M.Sc (authentic degree holder) students supporting PTI, May God Bless PTI!
Sir,, we will welcome you with open arms. I will vote for you. If you will stand in NA-130.
Why would Nawaz Sharif have to contest against him when his words suggest it might be PML-N that he joins in the near future.
Appreciating the pace of development in Punjab, Khan said that “Shahbaz Sharif is an energetic politician and works hard. I would advise Nawaz Sharif to let Shahbaz handle all the political matters alone.”
InshAllah PTI :)
We are with Mr. Khan!!! Long Live PTI! Love from Germany!
@Adeel Syed: Dont worry he will clean sweep even if Nawaz Shareef himself contest against him
Looks like Lahore has 200 seats of National Assembly everybody wants to run for elections from there.