A.Q. Khan’s statements

| 19th November, 2012
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I DO not understand what Dr A. Q Khan wants from the people of Pakistan. For years he has been trying to promote himself as the ‘father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb’, while heading the nuclear research facility.

During this time, he has had unlimited budget and he has been treated like a prince by everyone in Pakistan. And how does he repay us?

He repaid us by blatantly leaking nuclear technology to Libya. He was so careless that he even sent the material in a plastic bag having the logo of Shaheen Jewellers in Islamabad, which was shown at BBC by the UN nuclear inspectors when they first discovered these details in Libya.

Because of Dr A.Q. Khan’s inconsiderate self-promotion, the army and the government took great pains to stop his arrest by the UN organisation for detailed investigation into his nuclear proliferation.

He was told to apologise to the nation and to stay home with full pay and privileges. But he, instead of complying and helping relieve the pressure caused by this awkward situation, insisted on giving statements against the government and leaders of Pakistan in the media to create a hype in the nation.

He used the media to promote himself as the champion of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Even his family got involved by claming through various press briefings how Dr A.Q. Khan has been mistreated and how he has been made a ‘scapegoat’ by the leaders of Pakistan to save themselves.

And after years of listening and reading Dr A. Q. Khan’s statements, it was only recently when we found out from another nuclear scientist the truth about Dr A. Q. Khan.

It seems that Dr A. Q. Khan was not the person who started Pakistan’s nuclear programme, but instead he took over the project in its final years. But instead of making it better, his actions delayed the project by many years and also tripled the cost of the project.

In fact, it was not one scientist who created the nuclear bomb. There were dozens of scientists involved in this project. But Dr A. Q. Khan never mentioned them or even gave them any credit.

Why are the media and the government allowing him to give statements?

We, the nation, are not interested in listening to any more false or incorrect statements.

SHAHRYAR BASEER
Peshawar

COMMENTS

  1. Syed Abdullah Bin Zubair

    Mr.Author,
    need the source of this line, how you prove this statement?
    the last line of your thoughts,
    “We, the nation, are not interested in listening to any more false or incorrect statements.”

  2. Good, bad or ugly…Pakistan has nuclear weapons.

  3. tell me one thing my friend you say that, “We the nation are not interested —-” Where you get this right to speak on the behalf of the entire nation?

  4. AQ Khan Sir is both father and mother of our aatom bomb which has made Pakistan a superpower, and a respected and feared nation. All he was trying to do is help a fellow ummah which was stopped by our corrupt politicians. Had AQ Khan been put in charge of our lunar mission, we would’ve had a proud green flag on the moon by now replacing the stars and stripes !

  5. If there’s one person who brought more shame to Pakistan than those crooked cricketers, it is this guy. Father of the bomb? Thanks but no thanks.

  6. @Baseer, Dr kHAN has irrefutable contribution to his nation and he is a national hero. It seems that you are an ignorant troll far away from facts or paid to post .We would like to know your credential before you are considered qualified to comment on person of such stature. I doubt if you have any clue of national aspiration.

  7. See the pain in AQ Khan heart the he is been shunned by his own people.Pakistan and all of the world have to forgive Khan.

  8. I wish AQ Khan had played wise and kept his mouth shut on issues of national security. Had he left it to historians/time, he might have restored his honour and dignity which has now become talk of the town. He must pray that he evades interrogation by international agencies.
    Zaban e khalq ko naqara e khuda samjho
    bura kehy jissey dunia ussy bura samjho

  9. And what about the Army Generals looking into the matter and transport such materials……….and AQ khan in his earlier statements said ‘I build a department with 1000000 of AQ khans no one can finish our struggle for deterrent and peace. If Gadafi would have AB then his nation cant see the present situation.

  10. Dr AQ is the hero of Pakistan. His intention was to stengthen the defence of a Muslim country by sharing nuclear technology. Even though he might not be the one to initiate the nuclear technology but atleast was involved in the nuclear programme so much as to deserve respect and honour from the people of Pakistan. He is always the well wisher of Pakistan.

    • He is a source of utter shame for the people of Pakistan. His supporters who do not understand how many difficulties he has created for Pakistanis are ignorant and equal source of embarrasement.

  11. He is one of the fallen heroes of Pakistan like our physics Abdus Salam who won noble prize.

    • Please give us a break and do not compare the giant physicist Abdus Salam who promoted education as opposed to the other who was caught red handed in nuclear proliferation. Please have some sense of respect for the genius and world recognition of Abdus Salam.

    • Abdus Sattar’s contribution is nothing, compared to the great islamic hero, Dr AQ Khan.

    • Indians made their nuclear scientist as the president of India. What we did to our nuclear scientist put him under house arrest….. Thanks God Quaid- e- Azam is not alive wonder what we would have done to him

  12. why do we even worry and think about this anymore…and by the way it is not that simple as it seems. this is a national security issue. do you think Pakistan will alow someone to openly speak about it in public. maybe was a decoy.

  13. Dr A Q Khan has earned both name and shame.

    • Shame for what???? he was trying to spread his knowledge?????? He was trying to break the monopoly, even if with the compensation so what???

  14. Pakistan has produced and still has some of the best physicists known internationally who remain unsung heroes. The adage empty cans make too much noise is apt and unfortunately with the help of politicians and others try to steal the limelight. In the context of selling the arson, I wonder AQ Khan was alone. An excellent eye opener account Shahryar Baseer.

  15. We in Pakistan does not have the capacity to understand the reality and facts but go more for inventing stories. He cannot take all the credit for nuclear bomb because there are other numerous people who have been working for this achievement. Even if he was father of the nuclear bomb, he should show respect for the country and should not create difficulties for the country who has honoured him well but he dishonoured the country and despite all this he still expects to be considered a hero. Also for me, the real problem is the media and certain politicians who for the simple reason of going against the present government are willing to stick to everything which could be used for propaganda. None of our politicians give preference to national interest.

  16. We in Pakistan does not have the capacity to understand the reality and facts but go more for inventing stories. He cannot take all the credit for nuclear bomb but there are other numerous people who have been working on this. Even if he was father of the nuclear bomb, he should show respect for the country and should not claim difficulties for the country who has honoured him well but he dishonoured the country but he still expects to be considered a hero. Also for me, the real problem is the media and certain politicians who for the simple reason of going against the present government are willing to stick to everything which could be used for propaganda. None of our politicians give preference to national interest.

  17. very good letter. I am full agree with you. In fact, his statements are also promoting sectarian violance. He must be coerced to observe code of conduct

  18. Nt agreed with your Writing Mr….

  19. Sir you are not only misinformed but ungrateful to Dr. Khan and his services as well. I can say this without any doubt that there was no other Pakistani who could have done even close to what Dr. Khan did. No body has the capability to bring the blueprints for the centrifuges from a foreign country and build it too despite several regimes of international sanctions. You are an unjust and ungreatful person.
    Sr. Syed h. Imam

    • You mean unlawful stealing of the centrifuge blue prints. That’s cheating and fraudulent and not worthy of praise and heroism.

      • And reinforces what Khan did later in life – once a thief always a thief

      • zafar by your criteria you are a stealer too since you read western text books but you have one more flaw that you read only but donot get the learning part to develop your own so you are a dumbo as well

      • Goodness me.. How concerned you are about cheating on this very matter..

    • ” bring the blueprints for the centrifuges from a foreign country” – you mean steal the blueprint!

  20. Dr. Q. A khan is the hero of Pakistan, you have no right to insult him. Majority of the Pakistani people respect him and his Sincerity with our country as well as with pakistani people. He is the founder of Nuclear assets that’s why all the credit goes to him not others. If cricket team wins match cup use to give to captain of the team not to every player in the winning team. Another example Building Engineer gets the credit because of building design and all efforts from beginning till final, you cann’t highlight the name of labor used in the building. Please give due respect our Pakistani heroes if u cann’t never insult them. Thanks.

  21. yeah seems true.

  22. Dr. Khan is a German-trained metallurgist is rigtly acknowledged as the ‘father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb’. He brought with him knowledge of gas centrifuge technologies that he had through his position at the classified URENCO uranium enrichment plant in the Netherlands. In 1976 he was put in charge of building, equipping and operating Pakistan’s Kahuta facility. Under Khan’s direction, Pakistan employed an extensive clandestine network in order to obtain the necessary materials and technology for its developing uranium enrichment capabilities that are the essentials for development of nukes.
    Don’t belittle him.

  23. everybody has a right to make a statement as per his opinion. he is our citizen . regarding his past let us not dig into it. HE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB FOR PAKISTAN, the other aspect we need not touch.

  24. Dr. Khan has been disillusioned recently but you got no right to criticize somebody who has given his life to Pakistan. In what capacity are you writing. What have you done for Pakistan. Dont be so simplistic in your view abour proliferation. It makes me think do you really live in Pakistan.

    • My Brother Patriot. We have to get out of this mind set of hero worshipping. What Dr Khan did was for pakistan and was his duty. just like we have our duty and u have ur duty. Its good what he did..he deserves a pat on the back but yes he wasnt the only one or the last one…there are thousands who serve this country everyday with their efforts and their lives and are not even given a pat on their back. Lets make institutions strong and individuals shouldnt matter.

  25. Dr. Samar Mubarak Mund was the head of the team which performed the nuclear cold test in 1983. He was also the head of the team which performed the nuclear tests in 1998 at Chaghi. This is on record.
    The contributions of Dr Qadeer are also not less, he was the head of the institution which was responsible for uranium enrichment. So you can think of it as that he was making the fuel for the car, while the car was being built by Dr Samar and his team. My source is information is my father, who was a scientist and worked in PAEC for 30 years.

    • Is it legal for PAEC employees to educate their children about national secrets?

      • Ask your father that the main hurdle in making nuclear bomb is uranium enrichment, once you prodcued uranium enrichment, making bomb is just mechanics, that’s why americans are more interested in getting Dr. Qadeer, not Samar mand Mubarak. He has zero value for them. Don’t you understand

      • These facts are not secrets and were also told by Dr Samar himself in Hamid Mir’s program “Capital Talk” about 6-7 years ago and also on other numerous occasions as well. The program’s video can be seen on Youtube.

    • utterly agreed