Pakistan court says nuke scientist is free citizen

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistan court declared disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan a "free citizen" Friday after years of de facto house arrest because of his alleged role in leaking atomic weapons technology to countries including Iran, North Korea and Libya.

A smiling Khan emerged from his house and addressed reporters face-to-face for the first time since 2004 but indicated he would not be talking about Pakistan's secretive nuclear program and about who else was involved in leaking its secrets around the world.

"We don't want to talk about the past things," he said as the guards who have enforced his long isolation stood aside for a throng of TV crews and journalists.

Khan, the architect of Pakistan's nuclear program, took sole responsibility in 2004 for leaking the nuclear secrets but was immediately pardoned by former President Pervez Musharraf and placed under de facto house arrest.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hF7ZYNqjRJW0jcpPOK3AcQ7NvuVAD96635DG0

[Alcibiades]

1. This is big news

The man who has played the greatest role in nuclear proliferation now walks free, though I imagine his "arrest" was under pretty swanky conditions.

[yellowcanine]

2. "We don't want to talk about the past things,"

Nah, wouldn't want that, Abdul.

[struggle4progress]

3. Lawyer: Pakistani nuclear scientist freed from house arrest

Source: CNN

From Zein Basravi

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who admitted leaking nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya and then recanted his confession, has been released from house arrest after it was declared illegal by the Islamabad High Court, his attorney told CNN Friday ...

The Pakistani government was slow to acknowledge the high court's ruling. A spokesman said the Interior Ministry hasn't received the official court ruling, but will comply with whatever decision was made.

Government attorneys said they expected an official announcement to be made by Saturday ...

In 2004, Khan was placed under house arrest following his admission on Pakistan television that he had been involved in a clandestine international network selling nuclear weapons technology from Pakistan to a host of nations including Iran and North Korea ...

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/06/pakistan.nuclear.scientist.arrest/

---

Abdul Qadeer Khan
Pakistani nuclear scientist accused of industrial espionage
Owen Bowcott
guardian.co.uk
Friday 6 February 2009 14.16 GMT

... In 1976, he .. was appointed head of the country's nuclear programme. India's first successful nuclear test, in 1974, had spurred its rival and neighbour to accelerate research efforts to build a bomb.

After leaving Holland, Khan was sentenced to four years in prison by an Amsterdam court for industrial espionage – allegedly for stealing sensitive enrichment technology blueprints. The sentence was later dismissed on appeal ...

Khan confessed in an interview on state-run television the following year, admitting that for 15 years he had supplied nuclear equipment and secrets to foreign countries ...

Last year he said he disowned that confession ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/06/pakistani-scientist-abdul-qadeer-khan

France concerned by freeing of Pakistani nuclear scientist

Paris, Feb 06: France voiced unease on Friday with a Pakistani court decision to lift the house arrest order against nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan and said it hoped his days of sharing atomic secrets were over.

"We are obviously a little concerned by this decision," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.

"We hope that the proliferation activities of Mr Khan and his network in the past are absolutely over," he said.

"We know what role Mr Khan and his network played in the spread worldwide of nuclear technology for military use. We hope that this release will not lead to the pursuit of these activities which are illegal, dangerous and very worrying for international security" ...

http://www.zeenews.com/southasia/2009-02-06/505312news.html

AQ Khan's release another deception by Pak: India
6 Feb 2009, 1800 hrs IST
TIMESOFINDIA.COM

... Speaking exclusively to Times Now, MoS external affairs Anand Sharma says, “AQ Khan's release by the Pakistan’s court would be detrimental to global peace and security.”

“Pakistan has deceived India again by setting Khan free,” Sharma added ...

Following his release, Khan stated, “The Pakistan government is strong and the armed forces can tackle everyone” ...

He said he would dedicate himself to educational activities, including starting new institutions and advising people in the sector ...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/AQ_Khans_release_another_deception_by_Pak_India/articleshow/4088852.cms

[ohio2007]

4. So why was this house arrest verdict dropped so all of a sudden ?

kind of odd but they do have bigger issues on their table.
Here is a four part al Jazeera vid story of what the US msm seems to have no interest in telling;

Pakistan's War On the Front Line - 5 Jan 08 - Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNtoM1iD8Z8


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Pakistan%27s+War+On+the+Front+Line+-+5+Jan+08+-+Part+5&aq=f

Wonder if Barack ever watches YouTube?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9s9nIcY-bw