Abdul Qadeer Khan 'Father of Pakistan's atomic weapons programme' Abdul Qadeer Khan dies at 85
Islamabad: Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan, who was regarded as the "father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb", died on Sunday in Pakistani capital Islamabad after being hospitalized with Covid-19. He was 85.
Abdul Qadeer Khan was hailed as a 'national icon' for transforming Pakistan into the world's first Islamic nuclear power.
پاکستان کے دفاع کو ناقابلِ تسخیر بنانے والے ایٹمی سائنسدان، ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر خان کی وفات پر ان کے اہلِ خانہ سے اظہار تعزیت کرتے ہیں۔
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 10, 2021
ملکی دفاع کیلئے ان کی گراں قدر خدمات کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائے گا۔#DrAbdulQadeerKhan pic.twitter.com/tY6v3cbDDN
Khan was accused of selling nuclear secrets illegally to states including North Korea and Iran, and was put under house arrest in 2004, when he 'reportedly' confessed to the charges and was pardoned by then Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Notification issued by Ministry of Interior for according State Funeral to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. National Flag will also fly at half-mast today. pic.twitter.com/eSSFkmyAhh
— Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera (@ansukhera) October 10, 2021
After years of house arrest, the nuclear scientist successfully filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government of Pakistan at the Islamabad High Court whose verdict declared his debriefing 'unconstitutional' and freed him in Feb, 2009.
Pakistan's Ministry of Interior stated that the country's national flag will fly at half-mast today.
Condoling his death, Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "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."
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.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 10, 2021
"This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon," the Prime Minister added in his tweet.
Nation mourns the colossal loss of Mohsin-e-Pakistan Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan's demise. He is truly a national hero for making 🇵🇰 invincible. Indeed everyone is mortal but only a few leave an immortal legacy behind them. We are forever indebted for the legacy he has left.
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) October 10, 2021
Long live! pic.twitter.com/TC7HrOyjAf
According to local media reports, Khan has been buried in Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
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