Nuclear proliferation: PPP denies AQ Khan’s allegations

Khan claimed to have transferred nuclear material on orders of then-PM Benazir Bhutto.


News Desk September 16, 2012
Nuclear proliferation: PPP denies AQ Khan’s allegations



The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) denied Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s earlier assertion that the latter transferred nuclear materials and technology to two countries on the orders former premier Benazir Bhutto.


“Khan’s assertion is a desperate attempt to wash his guilt over proliferating nuclear weapons,” said Presidential Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar in a statement issued on Saturday. He said that people still remembered Khan’s public apology televised in February 2004 where he admitted his guilt.

The spokesperson said that by implicating Benazir Bhutto, Khan was trying to “lend a semblance of respectability to crime that brought huge embarrassment to Pakistan.”

“It is disgusting that Dr Khan seeks to restore his image by blaming Benazir Bhutto when she is no longer alive,” Babar said. In a separate statement on Saturday, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira echoed Babar’s sentiments.

“Benazir Bhutto is not alive and levelling such an allegation is not fair,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Babar said Khan now owed the public another apology for hurling ‘baseless and unfounded’ allegations against her.

Earlier, in an interview given to an Urdu newspaper, Dr A Q Khan claimed that Benazir Bhutto, during her tenure as prime minister, directed him to transfer nuclear materials and technology to two countries. He maintained that was bound to obey a direct executive order, adding that he was not acting in self interest.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Fasih Ansari | 3 years ago | Reply Dr. A Qadeer khan faced discrimination as He was Urdu speaking.
Common sense | 12 years ago | Reply

Well its a common sense that the knowledge and information the scientists have of such calibre as Dr A.Q Khan is classified and sensitive. So their actions, movement let alone travelling abroad to countries is bound to be under watchful eyes of government agencies. Same case is for scientists even in countries like USA or India etc. By stating that government had no knowledge of his actions is total hog wash. As a good servant he had to obey the orders and was made scape goat to cover government rear.

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