Mystery surrounds disappearance of missile model

Model at Ghauri Missile monument removed during Eid holidays

ABBOTABAD:

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Ghauri Missile monument installed by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Research Laboratory remains unresolved.

The model, which was placed at Mandian Chowk on Mansehra Road, was removed during the Eid holidays. The monument had been installed 24 years ago in October 1999, following a request from the then-chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan.

Former Commissioner Hazara, Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, played a significant role in its installation. Known as Missile Chowk, the site was renovated by Dr Muhammad Farooq, a close associate of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, with the support of former Hazara Commissioner Abid Ali Khan.

The missing model has sparked concerns among the public, with demands for a high-level inquiry and legal action against those responsible. The local police have claimed that the model was removed by the staff of the Abbottabad Cantonment Board, who intend to reinstall it after necessary repairs. However, the Cantonment Board authorities could not be reached for comment due to official holidays.

The 1500-kilometer range missile was fired by the KRL on April 6, 1998, from Tilla Range in Jhelum. It had the capacity of carrying nuclear warheads up to 1500 kilometers. The news of the disappearance of the model of the missile spread like wildfire among the people and some of them accused the Cantonment Board and the police department of theft.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2023.