AQ Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear program, dies at 85
Iran Press TV
Sunday, 10 October 2021 10:33 AM
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the celebrated scientist who was regarded as the architect of Pakistan's nuclear program, has died at the age of 85.
Pakistani officials announced the death of the renowned nuclear scientist, who was admitted to Khan Research Laboratories Hospital on August 26 after testing positive for COVID-19 and was later moved to a military hospital in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
"He helped us develop nation-saving nuclear deterrence, and a grateful nation will never forget his services in this regard," Pakistani President Arif Alvi said in a tweet.
"Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. A.Q. Khan," Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted, stressing how loved the nuclear scientist had been in Pakistan due to "his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state."
"For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon," the premier noted.
Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif also described the death of the "father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb" as a "huge loss for the country."
Khan, commonly known as AQ Khan, confessed in 2004 that he had helped North Korea procure materials to develop nuclear weapons and was placed under effective house arrest.
He was also accused of being involved in global nuclear proliferation.
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