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Pakistan pardons Khan
Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf has given a presidential pardon to the architect of the nuclear programme. Tap, tap, nope. Abdul Qadeer Khan stunned the nation when he confessed on television to leaking nuclear weapons secrets. He cleared the government of any involvement, but critics query how his activities could have gone undetected. The head of the UNâs atomic agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, described Mr Khanâs revelations as just the "tip of the iceberg" of illegal trafficking. The nuclear scientist, a national hero, made his public confession on Wednesday after meeting General Musharraf. When the deal was made. Mr Khan told the nation he had acted without authorisation and begged forgiveness. "I was a baaaaad boy. Forgive me." General Musharraf announced his final decision following his cabinetâs recommendation to grant clemency to the scientist. "Ok. Donât do it again" Speaking to the BBC, a spokesman for Pakistanâs Foreign Ministry, Masood Khan, denied the decision was lenient, saying Mr Khan had "made a contribution to Pakistanâs nuclear programme". "And Iranâs, Libyaâs, North Koreaâs........" Correspondents say there was huge public opposition to putting him on trial. They say pardoning him avoids the potential embarrassment that could result from a public prosecution - even though it could spark allegations of a cover-up. The BBCâs Jim Fish says experts are deeply sceptical that Mr Khanâs alleged proliferation network could have spread so far without the complicity of some in the government. Ya think? Raza Rabbani, a former government minister and acting secretary-general of Benazir Bhuttoâs opposition Pakistan Peopleâs Party, demanded more information about Mr Khanâs activities. The secret network may not have been government-sponsored, he said, but "one could say maybe the ambit is slightly larger than a single individual. "That is why the opposition in Pakistan and particularly the Peopleâs Party has been demanding that there be a parliamentary inquiry into this whole episode," he told the BBC. "There must be something here we can use against Perv." Posted by: Steve 2004-02-05 |
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