'Father of Pakistan's atomic weapons programme' Abdul Qadeer Khan dies at 85

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Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 10 Oct 2021, 09:54 am Print

Abdul Qadeer Khan

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Islamabad (JEN): Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan, who was regarded as the "father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb", died on Sunday in Pakistani capital Islamabad after being hospitalized with Covid-19. He was 85.

Abdul Qadeer Khan was hailed as a 'national icon' for transforming Pakistan into the world's first Islamic nuclear power.

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Ù…Ù„Ú©ÛŒ Ø¯ÙØ§Ø¹ Ú©ÛŒÙ„Ø¦Û’ Ø§Ù† Ú©ÛŒ Ú¯Ø±Ø§Úº Ù‚Ø¯Ø± Ø®Ø¯Ù…Ø§Øª Ú©Ùˆ ÛÙ…ÛŒØ´Û ÛŒØ§Ø¯ Ø±Ú©Ú¾Ø§ Ø¬Ø§Ø¦Û’ Ú¯Ø§Û”#DrAbdulQadeerKhan pic.twitter.com/tY6v3cbDDN
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 10, 2021

Khan was accused of selling nuclear secrets illegally to states including North Korea and Iran, and was put under house arrest in 2004, when he 'reportedly' confessed to the charges and was pardoned by then Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

After years of house arrest, the nuclear scientist successfully filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Pakistan at the Islamabad High Court whose verdict declared his debriefing 'unconstitutional' and freed him in Feb, 2009.

Pakistan's Ministry of Interior stated that the country's national flag will fly at half-mast today.

Notification issued by Ministry of Interior for according State Funeral to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. National Flag will also fly at half-mast today. pic.twitter.com/eSSFkmyAhh
— Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera (@ansukhera) October 10, 2021

Condoling his death, Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan. He was loved by our nation bec of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state."

Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan. He was loved by our nation bec of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state. This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 10, 2021

"This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon," the Prime Minister added in his tweet.

Nation mourns the colossal loss of Mohsin-e-Pakistan Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan's demise. He is truly a national hero for making ðŸ‡µðŸ‡° invincible. Indeed everyone is mortal but only a few leave an immortal legacy behind them. We are forever indebted for the legacy he has left.

Long live! pic.twitter.com/TC7HrOyjAf
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) October 10, 2021

According to local media reports, Khan has been buried in Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan buried in H-8 graveyard Faisal Mosque Islamabad. Rest in peace.#Ø®Ø§Ú©_Ù…ÛŒÚº_Ù…Ù„_Ú¯Ø¦Û’_Ù†Ú¯ÛŒÙ†Û’Ù„ÙˆÚ¯ pic.twitter.com/BBIaHrlSgB
— Rubina (@RubinaViews) October 10, 2021

#AbdulQadeerKhan #FatherOfPakistanAtomicWeapon #Pakistan #ImranKhan #PakistanNuclearWeapons