New York Times has reported that President Mushaaraf has pardoned Abdul Qadeer Khan because if there was inquiry then Dr. Khan would say that the technology was all borrowed with Chinese assistance and this would be a major embarrassment to Pakistan.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of a pro-Musharraf political party, the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam, conducted the secret negotiations with Dr. Khan, a senior party official said. The deal’s elements — the request for a pardon, public apology and granting of the pardon — came together this week. The official said the deal aimed to avoid a public backlash against the government, prevent opposition political parties from turning Dr. Khan’s case into a political issue, and to prevent details of China’s nuclear weapons assistance to Pakistan from becoming public.
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A senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam, told a Pakistani journalist that Chinese officials had expressed a desire for the inquiry to end quickly. The senior party official said government officials did not fear that Dr. Khan would name top army officials if prosecuted. They feared he would publicly detail China’s assistance — an embarrassment to a crucial ally that Pakistan considers a strategic counterweight to India.
Western nonproliferation experts believe China has provided Pakistan with a nuclear warhead design, ballistic missile aid and help with a plutonium production reactor.
But a close aide to General Musharraf said concerns about China and incriminating information from Dr. Khan were not factors in the pardon. But, he said, fears of a public backlash were. The aide, and a cabinet minister, said that in the last several days they were barraged with demands from a broad spectrum of Pakistani society that Dr. Khan not be punished. The close aides said that criticism of General Musharraf for his American ties would have been cemented.
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*Originally posted by TogaTogaToga: *
no wonder they're gloomy. So called 'leader' has let them all down. It will take some time to forget this treachary.
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I think only a moron will buy Mushraff's story that AQ Khan did not have authorization from the govt in his dealings. Did Pakistan(as in Pakistan Govt) not receive the missiles from North Korea in the barter deal.
I feel Mushy acted not because of any morals but because he was confronted with hard evidence and he did the best he could to save Pak's face (atleast in the short term).
The swiftness by which an apology was tendered , a pardon recommended by the cabinet and the pardon handed out by Mushy leaves little doubt that a DEAL took place between Mushy and AQ Khan - You scratch my back and I will scratch yours and we both would have saved our arses.
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*Originally posted by TogaTogaToga: *
no wonder they're gloomy. So called 'leader' has let them all down. It will take some time to forget this treachary.
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So called leader who has let everybody down is pretty popular in Indian circles and a big factor in crucial talks coming up. Cheer up, it'll be good for India as well if this leader sticks around.
As for treachery, that's AQK's concern not yours and he's happy so what's your problem?
Isn't there a difference between a hero and a profiteer? What kind of image is Pakistan projecting? That it's people don't mind what the military rulers and scientists do as long as they get bombs?
We think very highly of Abdul Kalam. He can ask for a nice house and he'll get it. But he won't make it to his car if he tucks nucleur blueprints under his arm to flog them to the most India-friendly country.
A dictator who captured the chair of presidency through intrigue and gun power is playing judge and jury. If tomorrow he gives up power he will be standing in the federal court facing the charges of treason. He isn't an elected ruler, who gave him the right to decide the fate of a country of 150 million people?
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*Originally posted by karina: *
Isn't there a difference between a hero and a profiteer? What kind of image is Pakistan projecting? That it's people don't mind what the military rulers and scientists do as long as they get bombs?
We think very highly of Abdul Kalam. He can ask for a nice house and he'll get it. But he won't make it to his car if he tucks nucleur blueprints under his arm to flog them to the most India-friendly country.
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*Originally posted by ahmadjee: *
Or agar knowledge phailanay ka shoq tha tou kisi or state ko day daitay, South Americans, or maybe some European countries ko. Why pick the controversial states like Iran, Libya and N. Korea?
Yeah tou wuh ba’at hui, aa bail mujhay mar!
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yeh controversial huey hi provide karney ke baad....agr inko dainay ke bajaye south american countires ko detey tu woh aaj controversial states hotey.
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*Originally posted by karina: *
Isn't there a difference between a hero and a profiteer? What kind of image is Pakistan projecting? That it's people don't mind what the military rulers and scientists do as long as they get bombs?
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The reason he is a hero is because he built the bomb. In a country of limited achievement it's something for people to hang their hat on. The profiteering part I have to agree with you 100%. It does portray a bad image but it's naieve to think cover ups don't happen. Tehelka.com got closed down by the Indian govt after exposing the arms scandal.
The reason he is a hero is because he built the bomb. In a country of limited achievement it's something for people to hang their hat on. The profiteering part I have to agree with you 100%. It does portray a bad image but it's naieve to think cover ups don't happen. Tehelka.com got closed down by the Indian govt after exposing the arms scandal.
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Tehelka is back, btw.
My point was about the scale of the cover up. And keeping things in perspective. AQ undoubtedly did a great service, but he just came sooner on the scene than scientist B. He took more than he gave, at least that is my opinion, I could be wrong. Yes, cover ups do happen but at least the educated should stop calling morally corrupt people heroes. That goes for India and Pakistan both.
Pakistani rulers, especially army ones have always been profiteers of the highest order. During Afghan war, ISI generals made a lot of money selling equipment meant for the mujahideen. Same is true with the nuclear weapons program. It's part of the culture promoted by the army and its many insitutions that have a strong hold over Pakistan. The main purpose of fauji foundation is to make huge profits on government contracts through connections rather then merit. All the retired army people make good money through this scam.
Until Pakistan removes the cancer of army from it's land, we will continue to have no honour, no diginity or crediblity.
can someone explain to me why the same pressure isn't applied to Israel as is to Iran, N. Korea, Pakistan, Libya, etc. (aside from the standard answer that they are protected by America). They have poor relations with all their neighbors and launched numerous preemptive wars and have a known thirst for land to handle a ballooning population so their Nuclear capabilities ought to be a concern to the world community.
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*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
Until Pakistan removes the cancer of army from it's land, we will continue to have no honour, no diginity or crediblity.
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and I assume you will guarantee protection to our nation with laathees and stones?
From what i have seen and what history has shown is that the military has done far more for the country than our senate. The senate is full of corrupt old narrowminded idiots. The CE has done a good job. He inshallah will continue to do so.
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*Originally posted by CM: *
From what i have seen and what history has shown is that the military has done far more for the country than our senate.
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Hum...Like Musharraf taking all orders from USA or Zia's encouragement of mUllah party which is haunting you now..or Yahya Khan's idiotic decisions.
Bro... Give democracy is chance ..not like the way you did in past where army was always there on their throat .Give it time to mature.If democracy has failed in past ..its not because it is wrong for pakistan but because it was not implemented the right way.
Else people will always keep crying foul because a dictator will never know pulse of people as he is not bothered about what man on street thinks.
I am a big fan of Zia. So i dont see anything wrong with bring religion into government or society. With an amoral society like ours we need a bit of religion.
I believe that Caligula is the best example of how Democracy doesnt work. Plus i agree with Churchill in his belief:
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Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.**
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Losing Bangladesh is the best thing to happen to Pakistan.
Hum...Like Musharraf taking all orders from USA or Zia's encouragement of mUllah party which is haunting you now..or Yahya Khan's idiotic decisions.
Bro... Give democracy is chance ..not like the way you did in past where army was always there on their throat .Give it time to mature.If democracy has failed in past ..its not because it is wrong for pakistan but because it was not implemented the right way.
Else people will always keep crying foul because a dictator will never know pulse of people as he is not bothered about what man on street thinks.
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I am not a big fan of musharraf, but please dont compare him to Zia. Musharrafs time can be a nice era to live in, Zia's time wasnt, it was the time of the whip. Please dont compare a decent politician/military man with a gadha.
So called leader who has let everybody down is pretty popular in Indian circles and a big factor in crucial talks coming up. Cheer up, it'll be good for India as well if this leader sticks around.
As for treachery, that's AQK's concern not yours and he's happy so what's your problem?
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The so called leader I was referring to was AQK and the treachery his. That doesn't mean Musharaf is a saint but at the moment I don't see any alternatives.
How is AQK concerned? He is happy enjoying his villas and $2B in the foreign banks that he siphoned of by bringing Pakistan to shame and international censure. If the price of Pakistani people and soverignty is just $2B there are lot more honorable ways to have earned than bringing such ignominy.
Instead asking me what my problem is, ask yourself what your problem is and why you're defending the traitor.