Top Pakistani nuclear scientist accepts responsibility of nuclear proliferation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 05, 2004

Top Pakistani nuclear scientist accepts responsibility of nuclear proliferation

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Pakistan's top nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan has accepted full responsibility for all the nuclear proliferation activities and submitted his mercy petition to President Musharraf and requested for clemency, an official statement said Wednesday.

"At the request of Dr. A. Q Khan, President General Pervez Musharraf has agreed to meet him today at the president's camp office," the statement said.

During the meeting, A.Q.Khan reconfirmed to the president "the details of the proliferation activities that he had committed in the past and had admitted earlier in interviews with the investigating team appointed by the government," it said.

Khan said he realized that these activities which were in clear violation of different Pakistani laws could have seriously jeopardized Pakistan's nuclear capability and put the nation at risk.

He submitted his mercy petition to the president and requested for clemency in view of his services to national security.

Khan expressed his regrets and said he is likely to make a statement to the nation on his own violations, the statement said.

The president will consult national Command Authority before the final position is taken on the mercy petition, it said.

After the meeting, Khan said it was extremely fine and a helpful meeting.

He told the official Pakistan TV that the president was extremely kind and understanding.

Pakistani leading nuclear scientist may not be charged

Pakistan's top nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has accepted full responsibility for illegally transferring nuclear secret, may not be charged, said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the President of Pakistani ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (PML), in Islamabad Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Qadeer Khan Wednesday evening, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said there should be no trial andthe matter will be resolved amicably.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Dr. Qadeer Khan in the best interest of the country has accepted the responsibility of transferring nuclear technology and ended the confusion.

Dr. Qadeer Khan has made it clear that he will not disgrace the country, said the leading politician.

Pakistani Cabinet will meet Wednesday to decide the mercy petition filed by Dr. Qadeer Khan.

According to a report of local news agency News Network International, the National Command Authority (NCA) has held a meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the mercy petition of Dr. Qadeer Khan and decided to forward the petition to the Cabinet forits consideration.

The NCA meeting was attended by the President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, and other senior civil and military officials, the report said.

Source: Xinhua

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