Dr. Khan’s statement damaged country’s position: Kidwai

Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 10:56 pm under Pakistan Breaking news Dr. Khan’s statement damaged country’s position: Kidwai

RAWALPINDI: Director General, Strategic Plans Division, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Khalid Kidwai has said the pardon granted to Dr. Abutl Qadeer Khan was not unconditional and that Dr. Khan’s statement has damaged the country’s standing.

At a news briefing here at Strategic Plan Division, the DG said Dr. A.Q. Khan is free to speak and he can give any statement in his personal capacity.

He said the involvement of Dr. A.Q. Khan in North Korea’s issue came to surface which led to his debriefing. “Dr. Khan confessed and sought pardon from President Pervez Musharraf. On this the President said Dr. Khan should seek forgiveness from the nation.”

“Dr. A.Q. Khan has not taken upon him the blame for others’ wrongdoings… he was not under any pressure nor any deal was struck with him,” Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Khalid Qidwai maintained.

He said the draft of address to the nation was prepared at National Command Authority and that Dr. A.Q. Khan agreed to read it after going through it in detail and also making some changes to it. “He was not under any pressure.”

“Dr. Khan’s pardon was conditional and he was told that the same would stand withdrawn if anything new came to light regarding Pakistan’s security or nuclear proliferation to country’s other than Iran, Libya and North Korea,” DG Strategic Plans Division said.

He said Dr. Khan was kept in seclusion in view of security concerns and he cannot be left without security.

“Dr. Khan had the freedom to go anywhere he wanted and he could be escorted wherever he wished to go,” he said, adding, “now due to the yesterday’s statement of Dr. A.Q. Khan Pakistan will have to face difficulties at international level.”