| Submit your comments on this article | |
| India-Pakistan | |
| Dr Qadeer linked to N-black market | |
| 2004-01-28 | |
| More details from Hi Pakistan, EFL: Pakistani investigators have made an independent confirmation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) allegation that nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had direct ties with international black market dealers who sold non-peaceful nuclear technology and hardware to Iran and Libya, and offered similar deals to Syria and former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "To show its commitment and international responsibility to nuclear proliferation, Pakistan has assured the IAEA of strong legal action against the culprits," said a senior official, who confirmed that Dr Khan has been advised to stay home, which is now being guarded by the military intelligence sleuths. Sleuths investigate, thugs guard. It’s a union thing. Pakistani investigators have been told while the nuclear black marketeers arranged continued practical support from the senior Pakistani nuclear scientist for Iran, the deal for Libya got stuck because of Col Qaddafi’s decision a few years ago to freeze his programme, but no progress was made with Syria and Iraq after some initial contacts in mid nineties. Syria didn’t have the money, and Saddam was most likely frozen out by Iran and Saudi pressure on Pakistan. "They are shrewd nameless operators who routinely change their identities, not like Pakistanis who operated upfront," according to an informed official, who said that Pakistan failed miserably in preventing Dr Khan from seeking publicity unlike other countries where the nuclear scientists are kept from public glare.
Building up his reputation as builder of the Holy Bomb, it’s helping him now if you look at all the demonstrations supporting him. "Money trail is one solid piece of evidence," said one official. "But most importantly the governments of Iran and Libya have exposed the racket. They made no attempt to hide their sources as if they wanted to settle score with Pakistani scientists." They got caught and are sharing the blame. Libya gave up its program and Iran most likely doesn’t need them any more. Pakistani investigators said that they have strong reasons to believe that misusing a benign government authority for peaceful nuclear cooperation with Iran, Dr A Q Khan authorised transfer of related information, including blue prints, names of third party contacts to Iranian authorities. He later helped Iran produce centrifuges for the uranium enrichment in early nineties. Pakistani officials have privately acknowledged that the recent events exposed highest levels of negligence, financial impropriety and security lapses at the Khan Research Laboratory, the nation’s most sensitive nuclear installations throughout the nineties. "It was a no-question asked regime for the KRL," said a nuclear scientist who had spent 30 years in the country’s nuclear programme. "Dr Khan was never supposed to answer or explain his most frequent trips. He spent billions of dollars without any check." And it looks like he was skimming off some cash. Several Pakistani nuclear scientists guessed that Pakistan must have spent close to US $10 billion on the programme since early seventies, but no one in the country can give the exact amount as no accounts for this largest expenditure in the nation’s history were ever maintained. That’s handy. "It was no secret that big chunks of procurements are made through companies directly or indirectly operated by the son-in-law and the Dubai-based brother of Dr. Khan," said a retired military intelligence official. "It is a matter of record that for his daughters wedding the top nuclear scientist imported an exclusive US $400,000 Teflon Tent from Florida. He gifted BMWs and houses to his daughters. At one time he got so excited that he gifted a house in Islamabad to his palmist." Sounds like he would have fit right in at Enron. Several Pakistani officials argue that the fact that Iranian money in exchange for the nuclear technology landed in the personal accounts of two Pakistani scientists and stayed there for several years is the biggest proof that it was a rogue operation planned and executed by nuclear black marketeers in collusion with Pakistani scientists. Or they took advantage of a government approved operation. Well-informed Pakistani officials said that after holding information on financial impropriety to the tunes of hundreds of millions of dollars at the KRL for several years, Dr A Q Khan was first confronted with evidence by the previous ISI chief Lt Gen Mahmoud Ahmad in 2001, on whose recommendation President Musharraf ordered his transfer from the KRL. "Even at that point the president decided not to further investigate the corruption charges or to prosecute Dr Khan," said an official. He had too big a profile as the Holy Bomb creator, his PR operation saw to that. Several Pakistani officials informed that aides to the president are still divided on the nature of action to be initiated against Dr Khan. "President is all out for the prosecution, but many aides think that deseating Dr Khan from his present cabinet position is enough to send a strong message," a senior official said. Nope, it’s gone too far for a slap on the wrist. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 "Khhhaaaaaaaaaaaaannn!" |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-1-28 1:11:46 PM |
| #2 So, you could describe him as having a "Qadeer in the headlights" look? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-1-28 11:11:47 AM |
| #1 More stuff coming out here: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, 'father' of Pakistan's nuclear programme, was given a villa on the Caspian Sea and lucrative fishing rights for caviar in exchange for delivering nuclear secrets to Iran, Pakistani exiles in London have alleged. ----------------- In Pakistan Khan became a national hero. Long before the tests, one local magazine Hurmat, wrote: 'A special function should be organised, which should be attended by the federal Ombudsman, members of the Cabinet, chiefs of armed forces, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, all of the four governors and other dignitaries of the country, in which the President should confer on A Q Khan the highest award in Pakistan.' Flush with success, Khan wrote abusive letters to Western publications that dared to comment on his activities. To the German magazine Der Spiegel he wrote, 'Western journalism takes pride in false and malicious reporting. These bastards are God-appointed guardians of the world to stockpile hundreds and thousands of nuclear warheads. But if we start a modest programme, we are the Satan." Another newspaper that asked why Khan had been given access to sensitive technology in the West received a mouthful of abuse. 'After all your mischief and slanderous reports, what do you expect from Dr A Q Khan -- to lick your ****holes and send you sweets and flowers?' Khan asked. But Khan's 'hero' status is now being questioned in Pakistan. One reason is the personal wealth he has accumulated through the private companies he set up allegedly to export nuclear secrets. It was one of these private companies that got the Caspian Sea contract. Another company was used to receive 'gifts' from Libya and North Korea, where Khan has been invited several times as an honoured guest. Such super-VIP status started to rankle among thousands of Pakistani scientists who receive no more than their allotted government salaries for their valuable contributions to their country's nuclear programme. They have been dismayed by reports of Khan living the high life as he travels first class several times a year under an assumed name to foreign countries of his choice. Looks like the "little people" are out for revenge, leaking details on Khan. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-1-28 10:40:22 AM |