Disgraced Pakistan Scientist Dr A.Q.Khan, Widely Called As 'Father Of Islamic Bomb', Passes Away

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan a controversial scientist closely associated with Pakistan's clandestine nuclear programme, passed away in Islamabad today (Oct 10) after a brief illness. He was 85.

Geo News reported that Khan was brought to the hospital early in the morning after he faced difficulty in breathing.

According to doctors, Khan's health deteriorated after bleeding in his lungs. He could not survive after his lungs collapsed.

Widely described as 'the father of the Islamic bomb', Khan led Pakistan’s effort to enrich uranium with gas centrifuges

Khan, who was born in 1936 in Bhopal and migrated to Pakistan along with his family after the Partition in 1947, breathed his last at about 7.00 AM (local time) at Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) Hospital.

After graduating in science from University of Karachi, he went to Netherlands for higher studies where he met his Dutch wife, Hendrina.

Early in his career, Khan was employed as a metallurgist for a Dutch firm that built uranium enrichment plants.

Khan faced allegation of copying the blueprint and making an offer to prime minister Z.A. Bhutto to establish a similar plant in Pakistan. Impressed, Bhutto made him head of the Kahuta Research Laboratories near Rawalpindi in 1976.

In 1983, Khan was sentenced in absentia for trying to steal enrichment secrets from the Netherlands.

Khan was assigned by Pakistan military establishment to purchase what he wanted from the grey market. By 1982 he had set up sophisticated centrifuges needed to enrich uranium and had enough material to assemble a bomb. He was then asked to build the warheads by General Zia-ul-Haq and was given a free hand for purchases again.

Khan was twice decorated with the nation's highest civilian award, the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, in 1996 and 1998.

Khan fell from grace in 2004 when he was forced to accept responsibility for nuclear technology proliferation and was forced to live a life of official house arrest. Khan was sidelined after it emerged that he was involved in shady deals, selling nuclear technology to rogue nations like Iran, Libya and North Korea.

In a 2018 book "Pakistan's Nuclear Bomb: A Story of Defiance, Deterrence And Deviance", Pakistani-American scholar and academic Hassan Abbas has highlighted Khan's involvement in nuclear proliferation in Iran, Libya and North Korea. According to the book, the the origins and evolution of the Khan network were tied to the domestic and international political motivations underlying Pakistan's nuclear weapons project.

The book also examined the role of China and Saudi Arabia in supporting its nuclear infrastructure. Khan is reported to have intimate links with China's nuclear establishment.

Khan lived as semi-secluded in Islamabad's posh neighbourhood of E-7 sector under the watch of security agencies since 2004.

Later, Khan retracted his confession on being involved in selling nuclear technology, claiming that he under duress by then military dictator Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Khan said Pakistan would never have achieved the feat of becoming first Muslim nuclear country without his "services".

Referring to the treatment meted out to him during under Musharraf, Khan said nuclear scientists in the country have not been given the respect that they deserve.

In 2009, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan to be a free citizen of Pakistan, allowing him free movement inside the country.

In May 2016, Khan had said that Pakistan could have become a nuclear power as early as 1984 but the then President, General Zia ul Haq -- who was Pakistan's President from 1978 to 1988 -- "opposed the move".

Khan had also said that Pakistan has the ability to "target" Delhi from Kahuta near Rawalpindi in five minutes. Kahuta is the home to the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan's key uranium enrichment facility, linked to the atomic bomb project.

Condoling his death, President Arif Alvi said on Twitter: Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Had known him personally since 1982. He helped us develop nation-saving nuclear deterrence, and a grateful nation will never forget his services in this regard... .

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he was deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan .

He was loved by our nation bec of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state. This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon (sic), he said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said he was "deeply grieved" over his death and called it a "great loss".

"Pakistan will forever honour his services to the nation! The nation is heavily indebted to him for his contributions in enhancing our defence capabilities," he said.

Funeral prayers will be offered at 3 PM (local time) at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, according to officials.

(With inputs from PTI)