ISLAMABAD:
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is unlikely to join any political party or enter active politics, The Express Tribune has learnt. Khan confirmed the move himself, saying, “I’m not going to join any political party.”
According to reports last month, the ‘father’ of Pakistan’s nuclear programme was offered membership in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by party chairman Imran Khan. Close associates maintain Dr Khan is under pressure by intelligence agencies to refrain from any political foray.
“He has been advised not to join politics or any political party,” said a senior PTI official who had met Dr Khan recently.
“We sincerely wanted to welcome AQ Khan to pursue real politics and change Pakistan’s fate. But due to some sort of strict advice by the agencies, he is unable to join our party,” said a PTI leader on Thursday.
A senior official deputed on Dr Khan’s security told The Express Tribune that he was formally prepared to announce his political affiliation with either the PTI or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on June 6. He could not do so, however, for reasons better known to himself and his family, the official added.
PML-N leader Pervez Rashid did not confirm the recent development. “I did not know whether the party was in contact with AQ Khan or not,” he said.
PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood, meanwhile, said Dr Khan’s stature is above politics. He did not know about the latest development, either, however.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
as a diehard PTI fan and worker, i respect Dr Qadeer for being at the forefront of Pak nuclear assets, and the respect stays whether he joins politics or not. As for NS, he has made clear how NS was himself not too sure about the test fires in 1998 but Dr Qadeer himself pushed ahead........which isnt any surprise, when is NS ever sure of anything?lol
this man is a thief who sold our nuclear secrets - he would make an excellent politician
Thank you for sparing us the agony of dealing with you!
Dr. Sahab please don't come into the politics. Your ideology of warfare through nukes will give us nothing. Thanks for making this decision. Stay home and chill out in front of TV screen.
Dr. Sahib, please dont come to politics.
Dr. Abdul Qadeer is the greatest personality since partition. His services should be highly appreciated. He is a motivational factor for youth of Pakistan. He should keep him away from dirty game of politics. Final decision would be his own but he should consider the opinions of his fans. I request him not to join politics. But if he has decided to do so then he should join PML(N), not PTI.
i salute Dr. Abdul Qadeer for his services for pakistan. I humbly request him to never come to politics. If he wishes to come to politics, the best choice is PML(N). It was PML(N) who was behind Atomic Bomb Experiment on May 28, 1998.
Dr. Sahib, please never join PTI. It is Pro-PPP and Pro-MQM party. Please never join PTI.
I firmly believe that Dr. Abdul Qadeer should not come to politics. All parties will respect him as long as he is not part of any party. But once he joins any party, then there will be opponents as well. I request him to please not come in politics as it is not a good field in Pakistani society.
If you decide to join PTI in future, you will be a most authentic role model for every PTI follower but if you go for PML(N) You will not be respected anymore because PTI workers don't support any other party's leader until and unless they join PTI. Strange.
It's so disgusting to read in print media the news attributed to political parties that certain decisions were taken/not taken because the establishment(Intelligence agencies) did not like it.PTI have been advocating " Change" yet they have been toeing out of grace blame game.AQ khan does not need what PTI says intelligence agency 's pressure.Let us change first our own thoughts process before giving sermons to others.
Doctor sold weapons to other countries so he should be kept in reigns !!
Please Dr. sahab don't enter into the politics. politics is a dirty game for most clever and wicked people of the society. please please dr. sahab don't ruin your self and your image. you have been an inspiration for the youth as you have done a lot for this Nation, you may carry on your mission of serving Pakistan with out being into politics.
Great news. In other words he would be making populist political statements even without being in a political party. What were the HC conditions for his realease by the coalition govt?