congrats to everyone…
President, PM hail KRL role; reject proliferation charges
By Shakil Shaikh
ISLAMABAD: In an impressive ceremony held here at Kahuta’s Khan Research Laboratories on Wednesday, the indigenously-built over 1300 km range Ghauri missile was formally handed over to the Pakistan Army.
President General Pervez Musharraf proudly accepted the Ghuari system on behalf of the Army’s Strategic Force Command at a special ceremony attended by top brass, scientists and engineers of Dr AQ Khan Research Laboratories.
“The patriotism, dedication and technical prowess of our scientists and engineers have made Pakistan a nuclear power with accurate and assured delivery systems, which had been put through a number of technical trails successfully,” said President General Musharraf while addressing the historic ceremony.
Chairman KRL Dr Javed Arshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Mohammad Aziz Khan, Vice-Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Yousaf and a large number of senior military officers, scientists, engineers and workers attended the ceremony.
A gigantic and magnificent Ghauri missile, horizontally placed on a mobile platform, was taken out from the camouflaged KRL scientific and research workshop; and driven past the dais – a gesture of its hand-over to Pakistan Army.
President Musharraf was also presented a model of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) amid thunderous applauses by Chairman KRL Dr Javed Ashraf Mirza.
Paying glowing tributes to KRL scientists, engineers and workers, President Musharraf termed the indigenously-built Ghauri missile an outstanding successes, lauding their contribution in giving “Pakistan a strategic capability and strengthening national security.”
He said the achievements of KRL in the twin fields of uranium enrichment and missile development were a source of indomitable strength to the nation and its leadership. The deterrence capability was developed through Pakistan’s dedicated indigenous efforts and the nation had rendered sacrifices for it. It’s sole purpose was deterrence against aggression and defence of our sovereignty.
The president brushed aside the recent spate of media allegations of proliferation, and reiterated that "it was a sinister, smear campaign to denigrate and malign our national heroes and Pakistan’s clean record by hostile lobbies, who have always been inimical to Pakistan’s status as a nuclear power. “We are a responsible nation and are aware of our international obligations. Our command and control structures, which have been in place for four years now, are water tight,” said the president. “We reject all such malicious stories and allegations comprehensively.”
He regarded it a proud day for him to accept the Ghauri system on behalf of the army’s strategic force command. He said that Ghauri symbolised national resolve and its induction in the strategic forces would radiate the necessary effects of deterrence.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman KRL Dr Javed Ashraf Mirza welcomed the president and highlighted technical stages and production technology that went into the development of Ghauri. He said the KRL thrived on challenges and would continue its proud traditions.
APP adds: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Wednesday congratulated the Armed Forces of Pakistan and the engineers and scientists of the KRL over the formal handing over of the indigenously developed IRBM Hatf-V Ghauri System to Pakistan Army.
In his message, the prime minister termed this splendid step forward as a significant measure for consolidating the defence capability of Pakistan. Paying befitting tributes to the sense of patriotism, professional commitment and technical skills of the research scientists of the KRL, the prime minister said the whole nation is proud of the expertise of the scientists and the defence capability of the Armed Forces.
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