Thank You Dr. Khan

Dr AQ Khan unfurls saga of atomic bomb

Khan: Father of the Islamic Nuclear Bomb

Pakistani scientists were ready for nuclear explosions in 1984

 Zubair Qureshi

Thursday, May 29, 2014 – Islamabad—Pakistani nuclear scientists were ready to conduct nuclear tests even back in 1984. What they waited for was a go ahead signal by the then government led by Gen Zia-ul-Haq President and Chief of the Army Staff. However, the historic moment came fourteen years later in 1998 when Pakistan was compelled to conduct nuclear tests on May 28 as a prompt reply to India’s 11 May tests.

This was revealed by the Father of Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme Dr AQ Khan at a ceremony titled “Atom Bomb ki Kahani——Dr AQ Khan ki Zubani” marking Youm-e-Takbeer at Aiwan-e-Quaid here on Wednesday. Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) had arranged the function.

NPC Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Zahid Malik presided over the function.

Dr AQ Khan who had the distinguished honour to lead the Pakistan nuclear Programme from its inception to the successful conduct of nuclear tests, shared with the audience some fond memories of the days when he had to start from scratch.

Dr AQ Khan said he was in Europe in 1971 working on a project that was monitored jointly by the nuclear scientists of Holland, Germany and the UK and being a nuclear project it had been declared a top secret. He was in Europe when he learned the disturbing news of separation of East Pakistan from the Western wing. This was a deep shock for the patriotic Dr AQ Khan. A few years later, India tested first nuclear explosion in March 1974. Dr Khan who was already disturbed about the future of his country that had been deprived of its eastern part due to the conspiracies of a clever and hostile neighbour, at once decided to come into action. The enemy had gone nuclear and Pakistan’s redemption too lay in acquiring nuclear capability.

Dr AQ Khan went on to tell the jam-packed hall of the Aiwan-e-Quaid the story of atomic bomb. In December 1974, a meeting was arranged between the young AQ Khan and the then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Dr Khan gave him a number of proposals and having done so, he returned to Holland. Again in December 1975, he returned to his homeland and after spending a month or so in Pakistan when he was preparing to return, ZAB asked him to stay in Pakistan and work on its nuclear programme. According to Dr Khan, it was indeed a test for him as quitting a lucrative job, a peaceful and prosperous life was not easy. However, his wife turned out to be a source of strength for him and asked him to stay in Pakistan if his country needed him. Dr AQ Khan paid tributes to ZA Bhutto who initiated the nuclear programme of the country. However, it was not Bhutto alone as all the successive rulers approved the programme and gave their full support, said Dr AQ Khan.

Dr Khan was allotted a land in Kahuta to set up laboratories there. Then he searched for competent patriotic Pakistani scientists from across the world and in this way a team of dedicated scientists came into being.

“I can still remember we worked for 20 hours a day for weeks and months,” shared Dr Khan with the audience. Gen Zia once on a visit to Kahuta laboratories was so much impressed that in the visitors’ book he wrote “These laboratories should be titled as Khan Research Laboratories instead of Kahuta Research Laboratories,” said Dr AQ Khan while turning another page of history.

However, Dr Khan regretted that the present government that claims the credit for the nuclear tests has not for once remembered scientists who realized the dream of making Pakistan a nuclear power. “I don’t need any credit as people’s love is more than any worldly wealth, name or fame,” he said. Dr Khan was given standing ovation for these remarks and youth especially students of various schools of Haripur and Hazara who had come all the way to attend the function vigorously cheered the ageing father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. He shrugged the rumours about security and safety of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. “Our nuclear programme is in safe hands,” he said. Dr Khan said if one wanted to know the complete story of Pakistan’s atom bomb and evolution of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, one should read Zahid Malik’s book “Dr AQ Khan and Islamic Bomb”. Zahid Malik has given details of our nuclear history and “has suffered for doing so,” Dr Khan lightly shared with the audience.

Gen Retired Hameed Gul said Dr AQ Khan is a courageous man and keeps the country in his highest esteem. He regretted that the government did not acknowledge Dr Khan’s services. “They fear lest the nation should follow Dr Khan Sb,” said Gul. Pakistan’s nuclear programme is for peace, he said but for those who are against Pakistan’s security and integrity it serves as a warning. The entire Islamic world is proud of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he said.

Senator Razina Alam Khan paid tribute to Dr AQ Khan in verse. She had composed the poem on May 28, 1998. The poem was well received and appreciated by all including Dr Khan. Senior Vice President NPC Mian Muhammad Javed said the government should utilize the talent of Dr AQ Khan. Such personalities are our asset and we should take maximum advantage of their foresight, creative genius and scientific innovative ideas. He said the entire nation and the successive rulers had consensus on Pakistan’s nuclear programme. It is for peace and prosperity of the country.

At the end, students had group photo with Dr AQ Khan while President NPC Haripur Chapter and President Private Education Network Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented flowers to Dr AQ Khan.