PAKISTAN: PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF PARDONS SCIENTIST WHO LEAKED NUCLEAR SECRETS, REACTIONS, STRIKE.
Record ID:
442991
PAKISTAN: PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF PARDONS SCIENTIST WHO LEAKED NUCLEAR SECRETS, REACTIONS, STRIKE.
- Title: PAKISTAN: PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF PARDONS SCIENTIST WHO LEAKED NUCLEAR SECRETS, REACTIONS, STRIKE.
- Date: 6th February 2004
- Summary: (U3) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (FEBRUARY 6, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. MV/CU: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS; 'THE DAWN' ENGLISH NEWSPAPER HEADLINE SAYING 'DR. A.Q. KHAN PARDONED'; NEWSPAPERS HANGING; URDU NEWSPAPERS; MORE OF PEOPLE READING PAPERS (6 SHOTS) 0.25 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) USMAN SAYING: "They are acting from the briefings they are receiving from America and Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, Madam Benazir and after that even Mr. Bhutto, they've all been influenced by America and it's America's policies that are taking place here. You will see that if we get out of this problem, there will be a new problem waiting for us. So, we are not going to be able to get out of it. There is only one way to get out of it. We have to be united and one in front of America and tell them that we are not going to listen to anything they say." 1.03 3. GV: STREET (2 SHOTS) 1.09 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MASOOD AHMED SAYING: "No Islamic country besides Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons. So, they are are trying to stop us in every way possible. Now, I'll tell you frankly- there are rumours that they might pull back our atomic plants due to this case." 1.23 5. MV: PEOPLE TALKING 1.26 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MEHMOOD AHMED SAYING: "What's happened to him (A.Q. Khan) is not good. If anyone gives nuclear weapons to Islamic countries, it's OK. This has all happened because of America. And why doesn't America ask others where they got their weapons from. What he's (A.Q. Khan) done is not bad. What America is doing is all being done to kill people from Muslim countries." 1.49 7. GV: MORE OF STREET AND PEOPLE STANDING 1.53 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MIAN ASLAM, LEADER OF MUTTA HEDA MAJLIS-E-AMAL (MMA) (ISLAMIC PARTIES ALLIANCE AND MEMBER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY) SAYING: "We will never roll back our nuclear capabilities, no matter how much pressure we receive. Whether the pressure is from the military or scientists." 2.12 (U3) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (FEBRUARY 6, 2004) (REUTERS) 9. VARIOUS: EMPTY STREETS OF KARACHI; SHOPS SHUT DOWN; LOCKED DOOR; MORE OF STREETS (7 SHOTS) 2.45 10. TV: PEOPLE LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS 2.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st February 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KARACHI AND ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Reuters ID: LVANZ6VTUXRTHGD9D7ANCVHU2B5
- Story Text: Some Pakistanis say American pressure brings
disgrace to their national hero, top scientist A.Q. Khan.
President Pervez Musharraf pardoned the scientist
who leaked nuclear arms secrets to Iran, Libya and North
Korea, saying on Thursday (February 6) that he remained a
national hero for developing the country's atomic bomb.
But even after a humiliating public confession by Khan,
Pakistanis still support the scientist, whom they consider
their nation's hero and blame America for the scandal.
"They are acting from the briefings they are receiving
from America and Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, Madam Benazir and
after that even Mr. Bhutto, they've all been influenced by
America and it's America's policies that are taking place
here. You will see that if we get out of this problem,
there will be a new problem waiting for us. So, we are not
going to be able to get out of it. There is only one way to
get out of it. We have to be united and one in front of
America and tell them that we are not going to listen to
anything they say," said Usman, a resident of Islamabad.
In a dramatic televised confession on Wednesday
(February 4), Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered as the father of
Pakistan's atomic bomb, said he acted independently in
leaking secrets as head of Pakistan's nuclear program from
the 1970s.
"No Islamic country besides Pakistan possesses nuclear
weapons. So, they are are trying to stop us in every way
possible. Now, I'll tell you frankly- there are rumours
that they might pull back our atomic plants due to this
case," said Masood Ahmed.
"What's happened to him (A.Q. Khan) is not good. If
anyone gives nuclear weapons to Islamic countries, it's OK.
This has all happened because of America. And why doesn't
America ask others where they got their weapons from. What
he's (A.Q. Khan) done is not bad. What America is doing is
all being done to kill people from Muslim countries," said
Mehmood Ahmed.
The leader of Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) party and a
member National Assembly, Mian Aslam said the nation will
bear every pressure to save the country.
We will never roll back our nuclear capabilities, no
matter how much pressure we receive. Whether the pressure
is from the military or scientists," said Aslam.
There was also a countrywide strike being observed in
Pakistan, which was called by MMA (Pakistan's Islamic
parties alliance) to express the solidarity with nuclear
scientists.
In Karachi, the strike was more than partially observed
as most of the public transport remained unavailable to the
people and most of the shops remained closed.
The United States strongly defended Musharraf,
reflecting a balancing act between its usual aggressive
stance on punishing proliferation and its firm support for
Musharraf -- a key ally in the U.S. anti-terror war.
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