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Pak under pressure to pardon A Q Khan
London: Pakistan is likely to pardon nuclear scientist Dr A Q Khan even though he has confessed to have transferred nuclear technology to rogue states, a senior government official has said.Khan, better known as the father of Pakistanâs nuclear programme, will be pardoned without trial, The Telegraph quoted the official, who has been closely associated with Khanâs investigation, as saying. It is believed that the scientist would be absolved since there is a risk that a trial would expose the Pakistan Armyâs involvement in the scandal. Yes, and heâs too well loved to have a accident. Khan has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he is prepared to blow the whistle on the Armyâs involvement. Quoting a Pakistan federal cabinet minister as saying, the report said that Khanâs daughter, a British citizen, had travelled to London with papers that could incriminate generals and other Pakistani leaders, including former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. "007, this is top priority. You must seduce Khanâs daughter and get the papers she is carrying." The topmost nuclear scientist is also reported to have briefed several trusted local journalists with similar information before he was placed under house arrest two weeks ago, asking them to publish it if he went on trial. I guess you donât get to be a top nuclear scientist by being stupid. Sounds like he has all the bases covered. According to the report, the other reasons behind Khanâs likely pardon could be the Oppositionâs mounting pressure on President Pervez Musharraf over Khanâs detention, and because he has been instrumental in saving his country from any Indian attack. The official said: "Since Khan had confessed to selling technology, there was no further need to humiliate the father of Pakistanâs nuclear bomb, who has kept the nation safe from an Indian attack. A trial would be too sensitive when political opposition to the president is building up." The litle fish are fair game, have to arrest someone to show Washington they are trying. Posted by: Steve 2004-02-04 |
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