M A I N   N E W S

Row over Pak N-scientists deepens

Islamabad, January 8
The controversy over some Pakistan nuclear scientists collaborating with countries listed as “axis of evil” by the USA has deepened further with the media here today publishing contents of a brochure allegedly by its top nuclear scientist D Abdul Qadeer Khan offering nuclear technology to other nations.

The information that Dr Khan, has been offering nuclear and nuclear related technology to other nations is being circulated in Washington since early December, a local daily said today.

In a Washington datelined story, ‘The Dawn’ said last month it had received a copy of the pamphlet purportedly distributed by A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories, offering vacuum technology for sale.

The distributors said the technology could also be used in nuclear plants and thus the offer could be interpreted as promoting nuclear technology.

The pamphlet has a Rawalpindi address, P.O. Box 502, and has pictures of the equipment it promoted. It also has a picture of Dr Khan on the extreme right corner wearing the medals awarded by the government of Pakistan.

Dr Khan was incharge of Pakistan’s nuclear programme till last year and subsequently retired after General Musharraf did not extend his services allegedly under pressure from the USA. He was subsequently made scientific advisor to Musharraf.

A message distributed with the pamphlet said “Besides manufacturing of vacuum components and systems, our vacuum constancy services are also available for system design, operational troubleshooting, quality assurance, maintenance, system development and human resource training.”

This centrifuge technology that Dr Khan learned while working at a nuclear plant in Holland is the same as the vacuum technology the Kahuta lab was selling, it added. PTI