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Pakistan Nuclear Scientist Seeks Forgiveness

Pakistan Nuclear Scientist Seeks Forgiveness

Dr. Khan admits his deeds and asks for forgiveness - appeared on national television


Report From Tribune International

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, an eminent nuclear scientist and creator of Pakistan's nuclear deterrent, met with General Pervez Musharraf before appearing on national TV to read a written statement. Dr. Khan told the Pakistani nation:

"There was never ever any kind of authorization for these activities by the government. I take full responsibility for my actions," adding that such activities "will never take place in the future."

Regarding his meeting with Musharraf, Dr. Khan said: "The President was extremely kind and understanding. We discussed this ongoing affair -- international campaign against Pakistan about nuclear matters. I explained to him all the things. I gave him the background, what was happening, what had happened. He appreciated the frankness with which I gave him the details. He will discuss with the Cabinet, with the Prime Minister and other colleagues, and then he will take a decision how to proceed about it -- how to close this matter."

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan -- the brilliant atomic scientist who developed the country's nuclear weapons program to defend the Pakistani nation from India's military aggression -- has not made Pakistan vulnerable by his actions because he has not violated any laws of Pakistan, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Malaysia or any other country. He has not broken any international laws. The governments of Iran, Libya and North Korea have issued statements saying that they did not receive any nuclear weapons materials, components, equipment or technology from Dr. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientists or Pakistan military officers. There is no legal evidence to prove that what really happened. Therefore, the anti-Pakistan Media should stop its disinformation, speculations and propaganda against Dr. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientists and Pakistan military leaders.

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US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher recently said: "We welcome the Pakistani investigation. It marks the sign of how seriously the government takes the commitments that President Musharraf has made to make sure that his nation is not a source of prohibited technologies for other countries. Pakistan, in this process, has been working very closely with the IAEA and with other governments, as they investigate and as they look at the information that is coming out of, especially, the IAEA on what's been going on. So we welcome President Musharraf's actions, as do other members of the international community."

Iran, Libya and North Korea have pointed out that India and several European states assisted the three countries in developing nuclear weapons. It is high time that India and all those European countries must also launch full and honest investigations of their nuclear proliferation adventures leaving no stone unturned.

The credit goes to Pakistan for aggressively trying to get to the bottom of all the nuclear issues and in reassuring the international community that it is a responsible nuclear power.

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, an eminent nuclear scientist and creator of Pakistan's nuclear deterrent, met with General Pervez Musharraf before appearing on national TV to read a written statement. Dr. Khan told the Pakistani nation:

"There was never ever any kind of authorization for these activities by the government. I take full responsibility for my actions," adding that such activities "will never take place in the future."

Regarding his meeting with Musharraf, Dr. Khan said: "The President was extremely kind and understanding. We discussed this ongoing affair -- international campaign against Pakistan about nuclear matters. I explained to him all the things. I gave him the background, what was happening, what had happened. He appreciated the frankness with which I gave him the details. He will discuss with the Cabinet, with the Prime Minister and other colleagues, and then he will take a decision how to proceed about it -- how to close this matter."

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan -- the brilliant atomic scientist who developed the country's nuclear weapons program to defend the Pakistani nation from India's military aggression -- has not made Pakistan vulnerable by his actions because he has not violated any laws of Pakistan, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Malaysia or any other country. He has not broken any international laws. The governments of Iran, Libya and North Korea have issued statements saying that they did not receive any nuclear weapons materials, components, equipment or technology from Dr. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientists or Pakistan military officers. There is no legal evidence to prove that what really happened. Therefore, the anti-Pakistan Media should stop its disinformation, speculations and propaganda against Dr. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientists and Pakistan military leaders.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher recently said: "We welcome the Pakistani investigation. It marks the sign of how seriously the government takes the commitments that President Musharraf has made to make sure that his nation is not a source of prohibited technologies for other countries. Pakistan, in this process, has been working very closely with the IAEA and with other governments, as they investigate and as they look at the information that is coming out of, especially, the IAEA on what's been going on. So we welcome President Musharraf's actions, as do other members of the international community."

Iran, Libya and North Korea have pointed out that India and several European states assisted the three countries in developing nuclear weapons. It is high time that India and all those European countries must also launch full and honest investigations of their nuclear proliferation adventures leaving no stone unturned.

The credit goes to Pakistan for aggressively trying to get to the bottom of all the nuclear issues and in reassuring the international community that it is a responsible nuclear power.

ENDS

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