Dr AQ Khan’s interview

Letter September 19, 2012
My humble suggestion to Dr Khan is not to comment on the country’s nuclear programme to gain popularity.

OSLO: Over a decade ago, when General (retd) Pervez Musharraf appeared on TV with the terrified Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan sitting before him, one sympathised with the nuclear scientist. There was a strong opinion that Musharraf had treated the scientist in an arrogant manner. Dr Khan looked penitent while confessing his act of nuclear proliferation. That was then.

Now, Dr Khan has blamed Benazir Bhutto for passing on nuclear secrets to two other countries. He has also assailed Nawaz Sharif for dithering before conducting the nuclear tests. Dr Khan has annoyed both parties whose media handlers have promptly taken him on. He seems to think that he is now a politician in his own right. His following, however, is as good as Sheikh Rasheed’s. Dr Khan is not cut out for politics because the more he speaks the more supporters he loses.


It is my humble suggestion to Dr Khan not to comment on any aspect of the country’s nuclear programme to gain popularity. No scientist in any other nuclear country does it. We are already in the eye of the storm because of our nuclear programme.


Dr AP Sangdil


Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2012.