With the general election drawing near and politicians gearing up for the big day, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is regarded as the father of Pakistan’s atom bomb has decided not to contest the upcoming polls.
Dr Khan’s decision comes a week after he registered a new political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan to contest general elections for the first time next year.
In July this year, Dr Khan set up the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan (TTP) as a platform to campaign against the growing menace of corruption that grips the nation.
“I personally would not contest any elections,” Dr Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune. “I’m going to launch a nationwide campaign under the banner of TTP,” he added.
As chairman of the party, Dr Khan said he would continue to guide party workers through the campaigns he has already launched.
Noting the failure of traditional political parties in delivering on their promises, Dr Khan emphasised that his party’s campaign would ask the youth not to vote for traditional parties such as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Dr Khan, who is all set to start door to door campaign, is yet to establish party offices in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad.
Established in July 2012, the TTP has so far gained little political ground among the masses.
Political pundits have predicted that while Dr Khan carries enormous respect among the people for his invaluable commitment and service to the country, the TTP is unlikely to gain any significant vote bank or public support.
“Dr Khan’s idea is not new. TTP is following in footsteps of Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami,”observed senior political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi.
If Khan wants to build political momentum he has to come up with a novel idea, Rizvi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Muhammad Ahsan KHAN: sir what u said that's wrong
shame on those pakistanies who r blaming their national hero.shame
@hamza khan: "because he was chair and head of PAEC, and had enormous respect and carte blanche for this stuff. the man worked with the nuclear designs and had this knowledge".
Absolutly wrong-He was never a chairman or head of PAEC.He was a tehnician of metalurgy and responsible for centrifugal tecnology and had nothing to do with other departments, responsible for nuclear waepon designes and overall technology.He could only summagel centrifugals to the said countries.That is the reason these countries have remaind unsuccessful making nuclear bomb.Centrifugal enrich uranium for fuel.If you have a fuel but don't have a car to run what is the use of having that fuel?
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the greatest!
@Dr. Dooli:
because he was chair and head of PAEC, and had enormous respect and carte blanche for this stuff. the man worked with the nuclear designs and had this knowledge. someone who is an engineer can know about finance or vice versa. the point is his status allowed him to do this stuff. that we all know. stop trying to deny it.
@Kamran Naqvi: Asghar khan case verdict.. IJI... Assad durrani's affidavit.. :P
@Umair Aslam: Ever heard of Tehrik-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan?
@Dr. Dooli:
You are absolutely right. One has be a Nuclear Scientist in order to sell "secret technology". (Just like the folks who sell bootlegged software are all accomplished Computer Scientists!!!)
Current Pak Politics is not for the sophisticated, highly educated, internationally recognized and professionally qualified self respecting God fearing honorable citizen defender of the old thoughts of the Creation of Pakistan. Instead time is for the corrupt-to-the-core, cruel, ruthless, cunning, sharp, two-face, charming to both men & women, sneak-behind, panther-like, slick but sober, tree climbing, a political commando who can plan but wait patiently for the right time to jump and grab.
A.Q.Khan is a hero of Pakistani nation. He does not need to contest elections. He should be made next President of Pakistan by the parties who come in power. He should, however, proceed very carefully keeping in view security concerns. He has great love for Pakistan.
It's good for the country that he didn't join Pasha Tehrik-e-Intiqam (PTI). Down with establishment conspiracies!!!
2nd TTP is good for Pakistan. Now his first priority is to get water Kit get worldwide patent so he bow out of 2013 election. Every time I watch his interview on TV, he remind me of Sheikh Chili Who happen to get one egg & start dreaming about building a poultry farm.
what happened to the water car he endorsed?
@ Umair Aslam
Dr. A. Q. Khan, publicly acknowledged in Jan. 2004 to have smuggled the Nuclear Arms to North Korea, Libya, and Iran.
He earned a good sum of illegal money from this traffic.
Was it a Charity??
He should jopin PTI as a final nail :)
Pakistan, it seems, have enough nuts who have their fingers on the red button and it neighbours India, ( who also have their own nuts with their fingers on the red button), which is assumed to have started the nuclear arms race in that region. Time to DE-NUCLEARISE that region and concentrate on things that matter instead of circuses.
@Umair Aslam: Proof of corrupion, the man is much more than just being part of two bit corruption. Dr AQ Khan is a traitor, what he did is called treason. Proof is provided by tons through the offices of another like him man called Qaddafi, can you still recall who he was. Yeah another "hero" like Khan who pretend being leaders of our unfortunate 'Ummah'.
Shukar hai ... better sense prevailed !!!
He should use the song "Atom Bomb" by Fluke as the party song.
Wise dicision. It would have further cost him his integrity.
Umair Aslam from liaquatpoor?
Dr AQ Khan should take part in the forthcoming election. He can change the mind of Pakistan. I salute to his personality, devotation to duty in the field of atom bomb.
Good sense prevailed.
This is good to see once again Khan in action. But i don't think this will works...!!! Reason because cheater of Khan is also have allegations regards sold to formula to other countries. so, let see
@gp65: So... What is your confusion about name?
@Muhammad Ahsan KHAN: Dear Ahsan do you have any particular prove for corruption agains khan???
@Dr. Dooli: Unfortunately he had all the accessibility!
The more you see the statements from Dr. Khan, more you doubt on the mental state.
In theory he's just copying Imran khan's strategy.
TTP? He named his party TTP? Seriously?
Very interesting! A corrupt Engineer will campaign against corruption in politics!!
Good for him. This is best he could do for himself from total exposure of his crimes and complete loss of whatever little appreciation is left among public. Him being without any credible claims to innocence would have brought a popular demand to withdraw all the wonderful facilities he is still provided at the cost of our meagre resources when the ordinary, poor but a more honest Pakistani suffers day in and day out. Dr. AQ Khan is a clever cooky and champion of preserving self-interests and knows and values the side of the bread that is buttered.
@salim If he was only a metalurgist, how did he sell the secret technology to other countries?
The question is which hidden hand is behind this old fella!!
His desire for power and limelight is second only to the PCO CJ.
Thank God!
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: He cannot be called "Father of the Atomic Bomb". He is just a metallurgist and his only contribution was in the fabrication of centrifuges for enrichment of uranium.
Besides there are serious allegations that he sold nuclear secrets to some countries. His travels are well documented.
Is he taking lessons from Shahid Afridi and M. Yousuf?
Only some super natural deity can help Pakistan out of the current crisis. If the current party wins again, we're doomed for sure. And I have no faith in anyone who is in current govt either provincial or federal. These guys can't stop the blood baths and target killings in their very own localities, no expectation what so ever.
ha ha so probably the agencies pulled the plug on him ... dude take a chill pill its time for retirement, get over with the addiction of importance & power.
A very good decision taken by the Father of the Atomic Bomb.
Pakistan needs his guidance to proceed further.
The Nation wants to flourish.
May Al-Mighty Allah be with Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Aameen.
If Khan wants to build political momentum he has to come up with a novel idea, Rizvi added.
Novel idea is to give up and do some yade AIlahi.Face saving.
Trust an engineer to know when he is out of place! Bravo fellow engineer