Islamabad: Pakistan’s nuclear scientist, and national hero, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has said that dealing with any foreign company regarding the nuclear programme of the country is not illegal.
During his telephonic conversation with BBC, he said that since Pakistan was not a signatory to any kind of non-proliferation treaty, it was not bound by any international law governing the issue of sale/purchase of nuclear and missile equipment.
Referring to recent statements of wikileaks regarding his role, as published by Pakistani newspapers, with full responsibility, he scoffed at the term ‘illegal’ regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program, which had started right at the very beginning of the issue, when former, late President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq had ordered to expedite the project.
Dr. Khan said that Gen Zia had given specific orders to his foreign minister and other officers, that since Pakistan was not a signatory to nuclear non-proliferation, any statement/discussion regarding the issue by any foreign dignitary should be rebutted with this fact.
He said that Pakistan had been purchasing nuclear material from open international market, and saw no reason for the process being illegal since it was not a signatory to nuclear non-proliferation.
Dr. Khan also rejected the report that he had made a deal with any governmental official regarding his release, which had rather been granted by court of law.
It is pertinent to note that Wikileaks had also mentioned a ‘certain two year earlier written deal of Dr. Khan with PPPP-led government of Pakistan, conditioning his release’. Wikileaks had also released ‘a photocopy of this deal’, which has been strongly rejected by Dr Khan, as it did not contain his signatures.
He said that he only came to know about any such accord, when Islamabad High Court released the detailed verdict of his release, and this fake accord had been challenged in Lahore High Court, which had given a verdict in his favor.
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