AQ Khan Released from House Arrest!!!
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bushwhacker91
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A.Q. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientist, freed by Pakistan court
Olivier Matthys / EPA
Pakistan's nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan addresses the press after he was freed from house arrest in Islamabad Pakistan.
Khan admitted in 2004 to providing sensitive nuclear technology to rogue regimes. 'I will always be proud of what I did for Pakistan,' he says after being freed from house arrest.
By Mubashir Zaidi and Laura King
6:55 AM PST, February 6, 2009
Reporting from Istanbul, Turkey, and Islamabad, Pakistan -- A Pakistani court today freed nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan from unofficial house arrest, capping a rehabilitation that began almost from the moment he confessed in 2004 to providing sensitive nuclear technology to rogue regimes around the world.
Khan, considered the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, held a jubilant impromptu news conference with his lawyer outside his home on a leafy, tree-lined street in the Pakistani capital. "I have got my freedom," he told reporters shortly after a ruling by the Islamabad High Court.
The full text of the ruling was not released, but a short statement confirmed that the court had declared Khan a "free citizen." His lawyer, Ali Zafer, said he had been cleared of all charges, but the court document made no such reference.
Pakistani officials suggested some restrictions on Khan's movements might remain in place. Prosecutor Amjad Iqbal Qureshi said the 72-year-old scientist, who suffers from a variety of ailments including prostate cancer, would be subject to unspecified "security measures," and his lawyer said he was willing to accept having guards for personal protection.
The issue is clouded by the fact that the government never formally acknowledged Khan was under house arrest, though guards outside his villa for the past five years have curtailed his comings and goings and screened his guests. Last year, however, Khan was allowed some limited travel privileges, including a trip to the port city of Karachi, and he began granting telephone interviews to Pakistani media.
While widely viewed in the West as a disgraced figure responsible for disseminating secret nuclear technology to dangerous regimes in Iran, North Korea and Libya, Khan is regarded by many Pakistanis as a national hero.
After confessing on Pakistani TV five years ago to his involvement in the international nuclear black market, Khan was pardoned by then-President Pervez Musharraf and largely confined to his home.
Pakistan has consistently refused to make Khan available for questioning by international nuclear regulatory authorities and other investigators, a policy that has been kept in place by the new civilian government.
Asked by reporters at his home today about his role in leaking atomic secrets, Khan said: "We don't want to talk about the past."
Repercussions of Khan's activities have continued to the present. As recently as last month, more than a dozen companies and individuals were sanctioned by the U.S. State Department over ties with his technology-smuggling network.
In interviews he granted during house arrest, Khan has been unrepentant, saying the Musharraf government was aware of his activities and he had been made a scapegoat. Today, he again described himself as a patriot.
Olivier Matthys / EPA
Pakistan's nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan addresses the press after he was freed from house arrest in Islamabad Pakistan.
Khan admitted in 2004 to providing sensitive nuclear technology to rogue regimes. 'I will always be proud of what I did for Pakistan,' he says after being freed from house arrest.
By Mubashir Zaidi and Laura King
6:55 AM PST, February 6, 2009
Reporting from Istanbul, Turkey, and Islamabad, Pakistan -- A Pakistani court today freed nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan from unofficial house arrest, capping a rehabilitation that began almost from the moment he confessed in 2004 to providing sensitive nuclear technology to rogue regimes around the world.
Khan, considered the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, held a jubilant impromptu news conference with his lawyer outside his home on a leafy, tree-lined street in the Pakistani capital. "I have got my freedom," he told reporters shortly after a ruling by the Islamabad High Court.
The full text of the ruling was not released, but a short statement confirmed that the court had declared Khan a "free citizen." His lawyer, Ali Zafer, said he had been cleared of all charges, but the court document made no such reference.
Pakistani officials suggested some restrictions on Khan's movements might remain in place. Prosecutor Amjad Iqbal Qureshi said the 72-year-old scientist, who suffers from a variety of ailments including prostate cancer, would be subject to unspecified "security measures," and his lawyer said he was willing to accept having guards for personal protection.
The issue is clouded by the fact that the government never formally acknowledged Khan was under house arrest, though guards outside his villa for the past five years have curtailed his comings and goings and screened his guests. Last year, however, Khan was allowed some limited travel privileges, including a trip to the port city of Karachi, and he began granting telephone interviews to Pakistani media.
While widely viewed in the West as a disgraced figure responsible for disseminating secret nuclear technology to dangerous regimes in Iran, North Korea and Libya, Khan is regarded by many Pakistanis as a national hero.
After confessing on Pakistani TV five years ago to his involvement in the international nuclear black market, Khan was pardoned by then-President Pervez Musharraf and largely confined to his home.
Pakistan has consistently refused to make Khan available for questioning by international nuclear regulatory authorities and other investigators, a policy that has been kept in place by the new civilian government.
Asked by reporters at his home today about his role in leaking atomic secrets, Khan said: "We don't want to talk about the past."
Repercussions of Khan's activities have continued to the present. As recently as last month, more than a dozen companies and individuals were sanctioned by the U.S. State Department over ties with his technology-smuggling network.
In interviews he granted during house arrest, Khan has been unrepentant, saying the Musharraf government was aware of his activities and he had been made a scapegoat. Today, he again described himself as a patriot.
notsuperstitious
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Another question mark on pakistani law and legal processes in my book.
PureLogic
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[/B][/I]
and foriegn assistance in developing your own does not makes you father (partially) either.
But atleast it is legal. "Developing with assistance" still has some dignity. And most importantly -
You don't get imprisoned for it.
bushwhacker91
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A hero gone evil .. tbh. There is no doubt what he did for Pakistan is remarkable. But there is vehemence that what he proliferated is unpardonable.
Flintlock
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bushwhacker91
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With heroes like these, who need morals, eh?
A national hero like A.Q Khan even makes M.K Gandhi irrelevant.
batmannow
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US says decision to free A.Q. Khan "unfortunate"
Updated at: 2139 PST, Friday, February 06, 2009
WASHINGTON: The United States says the release of nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan would be extremely regrettable'' and unfortunate.
State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters Friday that Dr. Khan remains a serious proliferation risk.''
He says the United States is still trying to confirm Khan's official status but has seen reports that say Khan has been released.
US says decision to free A.Q. Khan "unfortunate"
Updated at: 2139 PST, Friday, February 06, 2009
WASHINGTON: The United States says the release of nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan would be extremely regrettable'' and unfortunate.
State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters Friday that Dr. Khan remains a serious proliferation risk.''
He says the United States is still trying to confirm Khan's official status but has seen reports that say Khan has been released.
France concerned over AQ Khan's release
6 Feb 2009, 1926 hrs IST, AFP
PARIS: France voiced unease on Friday with a Pakistani court decision to lift the house arrest order against nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan
and said it hoped his days of sharing atomic secrets were over.
"We are obviously a little concerned by this decision," said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.
"We hope that the proliferation activities of Mr Khan and his network in the past are absolutely over," he said.
"We know what role Mr Khan and his network played in the spread worldwide of nuclear technology for military use. We hope that this release will not lead to the pursuit of these activities which are illegal, dangerous and very worrying for international security."
Considered the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, Khan, 72, had been under house arrest in Islamabad since February 2004, when he confessed on television to sending nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks.
The Islamabad High Court on Friday declared him a free man.
6 Feb 2009, 1926 hrs IST, AFP
PARIS: France voiced unease on Friday with a Pakistani court decision to lift the house arrest order against nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan
and said it hoped his days of sharing atomic secrets were over.
"We are obviously a little concerned by this decision," said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.
"We hope that the proliferation activities of Mr Khan and his network in the past are absolutely over," he said.
"We know what role Mr Khan and his network played in the spread worldwide of nuclear technology for military use. We hope that this release will not lead to the pursuit of these activities which are illegal, dangerous and very worrying for international security."
Considered the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, Khan, 72, had been under house arrest in Islamabad since February 2004, when he confessed on television to sending nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks.
The Islamabad High Court on Friday declared him a free man.
Grant IAEA access to A.Q. Khan: U.K. asks Pakistan
London (PTI): Hours after A.Q. Khan's release from house arrest, Britain on Friday asked Pakistan to grant IAEA access to the disgraced atomic scientist to question him on his proliferation activities, particularly transferring nuclear know-how to countries like Iran and North Korea.
"We note the reports of the court ruling to release A.Q. Khan from house arrest. We continue to call on the Pakistani Government to allow the IAEA access to Khan in order to seek information about his nuclear proliferation activities, in particular the smuggling of secrets to Iran and North Korea," a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a brief statement here.
Seventy two-year-old Khan, wanted for questioning by U.S. and other investigators, after his release from house arrest said he was "not obliged" to answer to any foreigner or anybody, except his Government.
The U.S. had last month slapped sanctions on Khan, 12 associates and three firms and barred them from doing business with the American government or private companies while pledging to work for squeezing out the entire network.
Khan was put under house arrest in February 2004 after he spoke on state-run PTV about running a proliferation ring that supplied nuclear equipment and know-how to countries like Libya and North Korea.
Khan was pardoned in 2004 by then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Khan retracted the confession last year, saying it was made under pressure.
London (PTI): Hours after A.Q. Khan's release from house arrest, Britain on Friday asked Pakistan to grant IAEA access to the disgraced atomic scientist to question him on his proliferation activities, particularly transferring nuclear know-how to countries like Iran and North Korea.
"We note the reports of the court ruling to release A.Q. Khan from house arrest. We continue to call on the Pakistani Government to allow the IAEA access to Khan in order to seek information about his nuclear proliferation activities, in particular the smuggling of secrets to Iran and North Korea," a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a brief statement here.
Seventy two-year-old Khan, wanted for questioning by U.S. and other investigators, after his release from house arrest said he was "not obliged" to answer to any foreigner or anybody, except his Government.
The U.S. had last month slapped sanctions on Khan, 12 associates and three firms and barred them from doing business with the American government or private companies while pledging to work for squeezing out the entire network.
Khan was put under house arrest in February 2004 after he spoke on state-run PTV about running a proliferation ring that supplied nuclear equipment and know-how to countries like Libya and North Korea.
Khan was pardoned in 2004 by then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Khan retracted the confession last year, saying it was made under pressure.
bushwhacker91
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I'm itching to see how americans react. Its gonna be one of those hard to forget mornings second to 9/11 itself.
batmannow
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UK demands IAEA access to A.Q. Khan
Updated at: 2059 PST, Friday, February 06, 2009
LONDON: The British government has demanded that Pakistan should give International Atomic Energy Agency (IEA) access to nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.
It may be reminded here that earlier in the day Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared Dr A.Q. Khan a free citizen and abolished his house arrest
UK demands IAEA access to A.Q. Khan
Updated at: 2059 PST, Friday, February 06, 2009
LONDON: The British government has demanded that Pakistan should give International Atomic Energy Agency (IEA) access to nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.
It may be reminded here that earlier in the day Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared Dr A.Q. Khan a free citizen and abolished his house arrest
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