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Pak N-scientist `accepts` he proliferated: statement

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 4, IRNA -- Senior Pakistani Scientist Dr. Abdul 
Qadeer Khan has "accepted full responsibility" for the nuclear 
proliferation, an official statement said on Wednesday. 
He has accepted all "the activities which were conducted by him 
during the period in which he was at the helm of affairs of Khan 
Research Laboratories and submitted his mercy petition to the 
President and requested for clemency". 
"At the request of Dr. A. Q Khan, the President General Pervez 
Musharraf has agreed to meet him today at the President`s Camp 
Office," the statement said. 
"During the meeting, Dr. 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 added. 
"Dr. 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,"
state TV reported broadcasting footage of the meeting. 
"Dr. Khan submitted his mercy petition to the President and 
requested for clemency in view of his services to national security. 
The President will consult national Command Authority before the 
final position is taken on the mercy petition." 
After the meeting, Dr. A. Q. Khan said it was extremely fine and 
helpful meeting. 
He told the official media that the president was extremely kind 
and understanding. "We discussed ongoing affair, international 
campaign against Pakistan about nuclear matters. I explained to the 
president all the things and gave him the background." 
According to reports, Pakistan`s top nuclear scientist had denied a
claim by a government official that he has admitted leakeing nuclear 
secrets to groups working for foreign countries. 
The official told Pakistani journalists on Sunday that Dr Khan had 
confessed to passing on information about nuclear technology in the 
1980s and 1990s. 
But leader of Mutahida Majlis-e Amal Qazi Hussain Ahmed said 
Tuesday that Qadeer denied the government claim during a telephomic 
contact with him. 
"Qadeer Khan told me that he has not issued any statement of 
confession," Qazi Hussain said. 
Dr Khan was dismissed as a scientific adviser to the government on 
Saturday - a move that sparked resentment accross Pakistan - since he 
is regarded as a national hero for making Pakistan a nuclear power. 
The MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed said on Tuesday that President 
Pervez Musharraf is `insulting` scientists under US pressure and 
renewed his call for general strike on February 6 to protest the 
dismissal of Mr Khan. 
Meanwhile, the United States has welcomed the efforts of Pakistan 
government taken against the transfer of atomic technology know-how, 
state APP news agency reported Tuesday. 
US White House Spokesman Richard Boucher reportedly praised 
Pakistan saying that the steps by President Musharraf, like removal of
Dr. Qadeer Khan as advsier to the prime minister, were a manifestation
that the Pakistani nation was against the transfer of their nuclear 
technology to any other country. 
TSH/MM/212 
End