The Hindu : A.Q. Khan has sought clemency for illegal transfer of nuclear-technology, says Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

International

International

A.Q. Khan has sought clemency for illegal transfer of nuclear-technology, says Pakistan

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 4. The Pakistan Government today claimed that the father of country's nuclear programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, has accepted full responsibility for all illegal transfer of technology and sought clemency from President Pervez Musharraf in the course of a meeting with him during the day.

The development should bring cheer to Gen. Musharraf, who has been under intense international pressure on the subject for over a month. However, it is not going to close the chapter on the scandal as long as the crucial question whether Dr. Khan could have transferred nuclear technology without help from top bosses is not answered.

According to the Government, Dr. Khan had apparently sought an appointment with Gen. Musharraf on Tuesday and the speed at which it has materialised is a reflection of the military establishment to put an early end to the murky episode. It became all the more imperative after speculative reports in the western media suggested that Dr. Khan had taken the names of top military brass, including Gen. Musharraf, as those who were aware of the transfers.

Dr. Khan told the State-run Pakistan Television that Gen. Musharraf has said that a decision on his representation would be announced later after consultation with the National Command Authority (NSA). Headed by Gen. Musharraf, the Authority is in charge of country's nuclear weapons and programmes.

Dr. Khan "has accepted full responsibility for all the nuclear proliferation activities which were conducted by him during the period in which he was at the helm of affairs of the Khan Research Laboratories. He has also submitted his mercy petition to the President and requested for clemency," a Government statement said.

The PTV showed an interview with Dr. Khan, in which he claimed to have told the President "what had happened''. "I gave him the background what was happening and what had happened," Dr. Khan said. He claimed that the tone of President Musharraf was lenient and easygoing during his meeting with him.

"He (Musharraf) appreciated the frankness with which I gave him the details and `insha allah' (God willing) he will discuss with the Cabinet, the Prime Minister, other colleagues and then he will take a decision how to proceed and close this matter," an unruffled Dr. Khan said. The statement quoted Gen. Musharraf as saying that the entire nation had been "severely traumatised by the unfortunate events in the last months, a reference to the investigation into nuclear leaks by Pakistani scientists to Iran, Libya and North Korea."

Talking to Geo TV, a private television network, Dr. Khan said, "I have apprised the President with the entire situation linked to the nuclear technology and he listened to it conscientiously."

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has given a call to observe a protest day tomorrow (on the day of Kashmir Solidarity Day) against Gen. Musharraf for the "humiliation of national heroes."

Cabinet decision today

PTI reports:

The National Command Authority, Pakistan official body in-charge of nuclear weapons, referred Dr. Khan's mercy appeal to the Cabinet which would meet here tomorrow to take a final decision on the issue.

The NCA meeting headed by President Pervez Musharraf and attended by the top military brass as well as Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and senior cabinet colleagues reportedly took a favourable view on Khan's clemency petition but the final decision on it would be announced by the Cabinet which would meet here tomorrow, official media reports here said.

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