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| India-Pakistan |
| Top KRL scientists go missing |
| 2003-12-11 |
| Two senior officials of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) have gone missing under mysterious circumstances, sources in the KRL told Dawn on Wednesday. The sources said director general Dr Yasin Chohan and director laboratories Dr Farooq were missing for the last one week. Responding to a query in this regard, a foreign office spokesman said that people associated with sensitive programmes in Pakistan "are governed by a stringent personnel dependability and debrief programme. This is a normal practice, especially in nuclear weapons states. These people are aware of their responsibilities in terms of their efficiency and conduct." He said under the programme, individuals may have to undergo debriefing sessions and that "the matter referred to falls within the scope of this practice". So they are being "debriefed" in a soundproofed room by mustachioed men with truncheons who have questions about their conduct? The official added that as for Iran, there are reports about many sources from where Iran could have obtained nuclear technology, including several Western companies and individuals. The focus should be on checking out with those sources. "We, for our part, are simply carrying out our own procedures," he said. Yup, truncheon time. Meanwhile, it was learnt that director laboratories Dr Farooq used to be very close to the founder of the KRL Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and was known as a "King" of the laboratories. Nobody in the Khan Research Laboratories exactly knew about the whereabouts of the two scientists and it is believed that they have been picked up by the personnel of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). When contacted, public relations officer of the KRL said he was completely in the dark about the issue. "Who? Never heard of them." The founder of the KRL Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated efforts. "Dr Khan is not at home and it is very difficult to tell where he will be at this time," a person who received the telephone call at the residence of Dr Khan at Banni Gala told Dawn. Interesting |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 UPDATE: Two scientists at Pakistan's top nuclear laboratory have been taken into custody for questioning, Pakistani sources said Thursday. The nuclear scientists at the Khan Research Laboratories were being interrogated after complaints were made against them, a government official and two Pakistanis affiliated with the country's nuclear programs said. All three spoke on condition of anonymity. Confirming reports in three Pakistani newspapers Thursday, the sources identified the two detained men as Yasin Chohan and Mohammad Farooq, the former director general at the laboratories. The sources declined to describe the complaints that were made against Chohan and Farooq, or where they originated. They also denied a story in the Lahore-based Nation newspaper Thursday saying that the two men were being interrogated about their alleged links with Iran's nuclear program. Masood Khan, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the two scientists were being "debriefed," not questioned as suspects. But he refused to discuss their cases. In its report, The Dawn newspaper in Karachi said that Farooq and Chohan have been missing from the Khan Research Laboratories for a week. The Nation said the security forces who took Farooq into custody at his home included foreigners. The Dawn said they may have been FBI agents. A week long "debriefing", sounds painful. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-12-11 2:47:33 PM |
| #3 He's on an extended elk hunt - at Gitmo???? |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-12-11 12:27:53 PM |
| #2 He's out hunting down Kirk... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-12-11 11:20:48 AM |
| #1 hmmm. |
| Posted by: B 2003-12-11 10:30:00 AM |