Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, left, founder of
Pakistan's nuclear program, meets President Gen. Pervez Musharraf at the
presidential palace in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004,
released by Press Information Department.
[AP]
The founder of Pakistan's nuclear program apologized in a nationally
televised address Wednesday for spreading weapons secrets to three nations.
The government said Abdul Qadeer Khan asked President Gen. Pervez Musharraf
for forgiveness for selling atomic technology to Iran, Libya and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"I have chosen to appear before you to offer my deepest regrets and
unqualified apologies," Khan said in a solemn speech broadcast on state
television. "I take full responsibility for my actions and seek your pardon."
Intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was an
agreement not to prosecute Khan, who agreed to cooperate with investigators and
give them all the required information for their probe into the nuclear
transfers.
A friend of the scientist said Tuesday that Khan told him he gave nuclear
weapons technology to other countries with the full knowledge of top army
officials, including Musharraf.
But Khan said government officials were not involved in the leaks.
"I also wish to clarify that there was never ever any kind of authorization
for these activities by the government," he said.
Earlier, Khan met Musharraf at the president's office in Rawalpindi, a city
near the capital Islamabad. The government said he requested forgiveness in a
"mercy petition" to Musharraf, considering the services he had rendered to
Pakistan's national security.
Khan said he admitted involvement in leaks of nuclear technology after being
confronted with evidence from Pakistani investigators, who launched their probe
in November after Iranian revelations to the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
"The investigations have established that many of the reported activities did
occur and these were inevitably initiated at my behest," Khan said. "In my
interviews with the concerned officials I was confronted with the evidence and
the findings and I have voluntarily admitted that much of it is true and
accurate."
Musharraf called a meeting for later Wednesday of the National Command
Authority that controls Pakistan's nuclear assets, which was expected to decide
on Khan's plea for mercy.
Earlier, the government said Khan "accepts full responsibility for all the
proliferation activities which were conducted by him during the period in which
he was at the helm of affairs at Khan Research Laboratories." Khan founded the
lab in the 1970s and headed it until retiring in 2001.
The president told Khan the "entire nation had been severely traumatized" by
the revelations of proliferation, according to the government statement.
Television footage of the meeting showed a stony-faced Musharraf, wearing a
camouflage jacket, speaking to a contrite-looking Khan.
Khan was sacked as a government adviser Saturday, and officials say he has
confessed in a written statement to selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya
and DPRK. U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002 said Iran, prewar Iraq and
DPRK formed an "axis of evil."
Khan was told by authorities to stay at his Islamabad home, where he is
guarded with tight security.
The government said Khan realized his proliferation activities, "which were
in clear violation of different Pakistani laws, could have seriously jeopardized
Pakistan's nuclear capability and put the nation at risk."
Musharraf was due to address the nation in the coming days to announce what
action will be taken against Khan and six other suspects in the case.
Previously, the government has promised to take legal action against anyone
proved of wrongdoing. However, analysts say a public prosecution could prove
embarrassing to the government if it implicates top military figures.
Khan's alleged admissions have shocked many in Pakistan, and raised questions
about how he could have spread nuclear technology without the consent of the
military which has often ruled Pakistan since the country gained independence
from Britain in 1947.
Two retired army chiefs have told investigators they did not authorize
nuclear transfers. Musharraf and other government officials have repeatedly
ruled out official involvement in proliferation.
