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.
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