Guest Post by Zubair Ahmed
After reading Mr. Shakir Husain’s “Our Heroes” published in The News on 11th June 2008, I immediately dismissed one of my own hypotheses that said: ‘only’ senior military officers, given a chance to speak on high technology; reveal an uncanny ability to churn out opinionated nonsense.
Mr. Shakir fears “Essentially by recognizing Dr Khan as a hero, we want our children to emulate a thief”.
He goes repeatedly shooting at Dr. Khan with his caustic hollow points “stealing”, “smuggling ring”, “master of logistics (read smuggling)”, and eventually “thief”. I won’t replay a bigoted slandering tone in the following lines and will reserve my personal opinions on Mr. Shakir’s hero recipe; instead I shall put forward some facts and questions in an effort to remove the selective ignorance about, and grudges against Dr. A Q Khan, that people like Mr. Shakir so dogmatically carry.
“Dr Khan is not a scientist, rather an engineer – a fact he has never clarified anywhere.”
Firstly, it should not bother us whether he is scientist or an engineer or an auto mechanic. What matters is his contribution to the world of science and technology and the substance of his service to the Pakistani nation. The Encarta English dictionary 2008 defines the term “scientist” as follows:
Expert in science: somebody who has scientific training or works in one of the sciences, example: a forensic scientist
We (and the whole world) call Dr. A Q Khan a scientist (as well as a metallurgical engineer) because of his research in the areas of metallurgy, materials Science and nuclear engineering, his publishing more than 188 scientific research papers in top international journals, his contribution in developing missile technologies at KRL, his holding of two patents (registered with UK) and above all his building a uranium enrichment plant at Kahuta. May be I have missed some of his important contributions here.
“Dr Khan has had a remarkable career which began with him stealing blueprints of a nuclear facility where he worked and smuggling them to Pakistan”
His career did not begin to be remarkable on his so-called stealing of blue prints; rather he had a remarkable career right from the start. Soon after completing his formal education he was appointed as one of the senior most scientists at Physical Dynamics Research Laboratory (FDO) in Amsterdam (a subcontractor to Ultra-Centrifuge Nederland UCN, located in Almelo), where he worked on centrifuge designs.
Did he steal nuclear blue prints from Netherlands? Or should we say the experience he gained at FDO/URENCO helped him while building, equipping and operating KRL? Even the Amsterdam court set aside verdict against him in 1985 at an appeal on a legal technicality. Do we have a proof that Dr. A Q Khan is wrong in saying that “All the research work [at Kahuta] was the result of our innovation and struggle”? And in any event, does the term ‘stealing’ and ‘thief’ apply to a war of national interests, where one nation’s hero is another’s villain and where one nation’s trickery is another nation’s strategy? Please talk to an Indian on Kashmir issue.
“Dr Khan is not a scientist and he never invented anything”
Dr. Khan has got two inventions to his credit, protected by patents registered with the UK (U.K. Patents No. GB 2275437, Nov. 1995 and U.K. Patents No. GB 2285633, 1997)
“All he (Dr. Khan) did was smuggle components from stolen blueprints and put together a team of scientists who could reverse-engineer already developed processes and systems. Intelligent, definitely, but not the stuff that heroes are made of.”
Isn’t it heroic that Dr. Khan, in a country that does not even build motor bike engines, successfully built a uranium enrichment plant? If all it takes was smuggling and putting together a team of scientists to reverse engineer, why so few countries in the world are nuclear capable?
“The Dr Khans of Pakistan should not be honoured as heroes; rather, the Dr Abdus Salams of our country should be honoured and raised on a pedestal.”
Heroism is about reaching excellence in sciences and arts or any other dimension of human endeavor. Heroism is also about the substance and significance of a man’s service to his nation. It is shameless to make one great man taller by deriding and cutting down another great man.
Comments
24 responses to “Is Dr. A Q Khan a thief?”
Long live Dr AbdulQadeer and the people at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
For him, Saat Khoon Maaaf.
For the enemies of Pakistan he may be a thief, but for Pakistanis he is our HERO.
Our salutes to the heroes of Pakistan.
Long live Dr AbdulQadeer!!!
Teray liey hain,
Nishan-e-Haider, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz,
Tujh per Pakistanion ko fakhar hai,
Aey Pakistan kai Sapoot,
Ham kia kar sakain hain,
Pakistan kai liey,
Tujhey salam karney main hee khush hain,
Aey Pakistan kai Sapoot,
Allah Izzat dey, aur dey Pakistan ko
Tujh jaisey sapoot
Salam kartey hain tujhey
Pakistan kai dosrey sapoot.
I salutes to Dr. A Q Khan. He is our hero.
He is the man who saves our dignity and freedom. We as a nation cannot give reward to him but only pray for his long life and we wish to see him as our President.
See http://ko.offroadpakistan.com/2008/03/deception.html
what a nice idea AQ khan as president excelllent love it
Good research about Dr Qadeer. I never knew all this.
Dr Qadeer is definitely our hero because he has achieved a great thing for Pakistan. People who try to point out negative aspects of his personal life etc. to undermine his status as a national hero, are not doing any good to the society or Pakistan. They are negative people with negative agendas. And only people like Gen Musharraf can be happy with them not the general public of Pakistan.
yaar, although I am greatful for AQ Khan’s commitment towards our strategic assets and respect him for that but there are proofs (satisfactory) about his involvement in dodgey deals.
I could confirm atleast One 5 Star Hotel (previously) Russian Embassy in Tanzania.
Plus AQ Khan’s dealing with the staff of IBS behind Karachi University where he illegally took over the entire complex by force (his brother was involved in the case) – later with the help of Cowasjee & some other folks – the IBS won the case at the SHC.
@Teeth Maestro…>It will be nice to see your response in *letter to the editor of Time magazine” section,Just a sugestion Maestro.
Dee
Karzai threatens to send forces into Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080615/ap_on_re_as/afghan_karzai
Wahhh, abbb yai naubat agaaee hai kah muhalley kai Chuttooo bhee hamain ankhain dikhaingey…..
Hi Folks, it is not a complicated doctrine I am going to share with you.A simple question.Is there any change in our attitudes,practices,and good governess. I do not believe as this AWAMI GOVT, INCLUDING PM,CAHIRPERSON OF PPP.They all went tp Saudi Arabia with a “JATAH” of about 80 friends, family members and I am sure on the expense of state.
They were all crying and screaming,including MIANA BROS,PPP AND OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES. When Musharaf Sahib went to UK and spent national funds.What is this currernt regime doing?
A group 80 members, useless to the cause of this trip, went with PM to SA. Where,as ,this task/project can be accomplished by relevant 4to5 officials. What did this JATHA get? Not a 6 million dollar question.For GOD,s sake change your mentality and attitudes,if the current regime think they are not accountable. They are living in Cuckoo,s land.As my poor nation is now awake and my young people, who are going to hold the torch of this nation, will ask this regime and froth comming GOVTS about the accountability.
So what is the difference between a Dictator and Democratic GOVT, if there is no change in attitudes and using NATIONAL TREASURY AS A BOUNTY TO BE SHARED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Please do not take me a Musharaf supporter at all.
People like Mr. Shakir should realize that whatever they do or say to gain favour of their western masters, they will always be known as Pakis, the country who’s name they spend so much effort to muddy.
When it comes to safegaurding one’s home, we don’t hesitate even to kill.
Nothing is too much to protect one’s country.
Can Mr. Shakir please comment on how Americans acquired nuclear technology?
GUZAR TOE GAEE HA TERI HAYAT QADEER
SITAM ZAREEF MAGAR KOOFION MAIN GUZRI HA
Pot calling kettel black.
Zubair it is very important for us to be clear who is our hero or not, and yes it hurts when partial picture is presented with a dicrimnated mind.
My say regarding this matter would be simple: Respect Dr. Qadeer Khan and use nuclear power for the betterment of humanity; there are various ways.
Peace!
All this sit crap is happening becoz of the nuclear weapon, usa wants to destroy us israiel wants to destroy us never mind the indians ,woudn’t it be better if we never had exposed our nuclear technology .
Aslam-ua-leikum!
meri nazer mein hum awam ko bewkoof banaya jata ha ki hamara dost kon ha or dushman kon ha,hamaray dushman abhi tak seats pe bethay hein or dost ya tu maa’zool ker diye jatay hein ya nazer band….
ap sab log khud apnay zameer se poochain ki BUSH duniya ka number 1 terrorist ha ya nahi,agr nahi ha tu ISRAEEL kay atomic programe pe tu ni bola kabhi….or kitni misaalain hein…or hamara MUSH jo Kargil ka chor,jamiya hafza ka qatil,waziristaan ka dushan Pak ka worst enemy abhi tak apni jaga pe kiyoon betha ha…sirf isi waja se k hamain dost or dushman ki tameez nahi/..
Dr.Abdul kadeer k baray me me kahon ga he is our national hero..un ki confession ko galat sabit kernay k liye coffesion ki retreation k ilawa me kuch points rakhoon ga jo soochnay walay hein…
1.kon sa aisa mulak ha jis ne atomic power black market se hasil nahi ki….no one,its proven….tu kiya IRAN or Koriya hasil nahi ker sakta?\
2.ager A.Q.KHAN itna baa asar banda tha k wo akela ye sb transfer ker deta itni security k bawjood jisko uskay bester per sonay ki b itlaa’ hoti ha
3.ager uss ne juram kiya tu uski confession ki ilawa proof kiyoon samnay ni aye?
4.ager uss ne raaz denay they tu confess kiyoon kerna tha?
5.ager confess kerna hi tha tu tv pe kiyoon?
6.ager uss se ye sara kaam sar zad ho gaya tha tu kiya Pakistani officials National interst me ussay aisa kernay detay….?
or boht c baatain hein jo InshALLAH khulain gi…..
jaag jao logo plz jaag jao
MY COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG.That is the slogan of every patriot of any nation in the world – it seems with the possible exception of Pakistan.
Dr. A.Q.Khan gave us in a very short time -and with minimum expences – something which the might of super powers tried to deny us at all costs.And something which neither the technological superiority of Korea nor the wealth of Iran or Libya could give them.Today we not only have Nuclear weapons but also guided missiles as well as sophisticated minature nuclear weapons to fit on to them.
The allegations of theft of nuclear information Times Magazine should know – even if it insist on incorrectly calling it that – is the right of every nation;that is why all nations have guarded their technological secrets -and all others have since the dawn of history spent enormous ammounts and efforts to gain (or steal if you say so) them.So this particular aspect is a non-issue.
That leaves the issue of the sale of Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to others . Apparently the Government of Pakistan as well as the nation is satisfied no such thing occured;because if it had ,the Army would and should have been the first one to prove this and crack down on the good doctor.At best the western propoganda on the issue is allegations based on a sour grapes response.
However to clear or prove this slur through an inquiry is an internal matter for Pakistan through Pakistani institutions, and no other country or institution.
Since the foreign vested intrests are not giving up their demands to question our national hero, I think the best response for the people would be to link such an iquiry with the demand for this to be done by the restored Judiciary.
If found guilty he could be given appropriate punishment;and if vindicated we must elect him as the President of Pakistan.
DR A Q Khan is the biggest hero in the pakistan history.
He will live forever and ever. He is a true patriot.
We love A Q Khan.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=1511&sid=9152887
Dr. A.Q. Khan is our hero.
No matter whoever thinks whatever about him, the truth remains unchanged.
We love and respect him very much.
One man’s enemy is another man’s freedom fighter.
This goes for all our national heroes, & relegious heroes. It doesn’t make a difference if the West keeps calling Dr.A.Q. Khan a thief or Religious Scholars & Workers as fanatics through its bias media. All i know is that they are ours & we must do all we must to have them protected; stop calling them with the names that the West wants us to or has named them already. We should be strong from within to face such ridicules & negative propaganda.
Dr. Atif
So what if he is thief? Islam sanction 'taqiyya' which is use of deception/ trickery etc. for good cause. Killing infidels is good cause.
Well done Br. Zubair …. Dr A Q Khan was our Hero, he is and will
be for the rest of life . His name will always be a symbol of
dignity for the entire Muslim community throughout the world EXCEPT
some "MIR Jaafars and MIR Sadiqs" …we dont care of them ,they
will get their rewards(hellfire) from God when see the ALLAH.
All Indians & American are theif