nuclear-news

Notorious A Q Khan to enter Pakistan politics

Pakistani scientist accused of leaking nuclear secrets starts political movement MUNIR AHMED ISLAMABAD, Globe and Mail, Pakistan — The Associated Press , Aug. 29 2012  The man who made Pakistan into a nuclear power and later admitted to leaking atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya is going into politics, aiming to shake up the country ahead of national elections.

That could provoke some grumbling in the United States, where Abdul
Qadeer Khan is viewed as a pariah. At home, however, he is a national
hero for his pivotal role in developing nuclear weapons and has been
lionized by Islamists for making Pakistan the world’s only Muslim
nuclear power. It’s unclear whether the 76-year-old nuclear scientist
will be able to translate this public adoration into political
support…..
Also, Mr. Khan could have difficulty achieving his political goals
because the government limits his movement.

He was detained in 2003 and admitted on television in 2004 that he
operated a network that spread nuclear weapons technology to Iran,
North Korea and Libya.

Pakistan has insisted that Mr. Khan’s proliferation network has been
shut down, but the U.S. still has concerns because American
investigators have never been able to question him. The U.S. is
especially worried about Iran’s nuclear program amid fears the country
could one day seek to build a nuclear bomb.

After Mr. Khan admitted leaking atomic secrets, he was immediately
pardoned by former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and placed under de
facto house arrest. The government ended his house arrest in 2009 but
still limits his movement to some extent….
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pakistani-scientist-accused-of-leaking-nuclear-secrets-starts-political-movement/article4508112/?cmpid=rss1

August 30, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Pakistan, politics