Pakistanâs government was weighing yesterday the possibility of putting the father of the countryâs atomic bomb on trial after the scientist confessed selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
| I'd guess that's not something that's going to happen... |
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan made this confession in a 12-page statement to the authorities after weeks of âdebriefingâ Government investigations into the affair also established that the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea took place under the direct orders of Khan. The investigation report which was presented to the National Command Authority two days ago, have also identified other scientists involved in the transfer of nuclear technology which is prohibited under Pakistani law. Two senior military officials briefed a number of Pakistani journalists late Sunday about Khanâs confession. They told journalists that Khan admitted to selling outdated âdrawings and machineryâ to the three countries to earn money for Pakistan. However, Khan claimed the transfers to Libya and Iran were also motivated by wanting to help other Muslim countries become nuclear powers, said two journalists who attended the briefing.
| "It was a religious thing, y'see..." |
The government official said the two-month probe into the proliferation allegations had reached its conclusion, but said it was up to the NCA to decide whether to put Khan and six other suspects in the case on trial. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who heads the authority, is due to make an address to the nation about the progress of the investigation after Eid Al-Adha which ends Thursday in Pakistan. The governmentâs investigation report has also identified a number of Germans and two Sri Lankans who acted as go-between. The government official said that âquestions have been putâ to two former army chiefs, Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg and Gen. Jehangir Karamat, to check information provided by Khan and other suspects during the âdebriefingsâ.
| That's why I don't think anything serious is going to happen to Abdul Qadeer... |
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