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Pakistani Nuclear Scientist Under House Arrest After Confessing to Passing Nuclear Info
Aired February 02, 2004 - 13:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Pakistan where the founder of that nation's nuclear program, a long-time national hero, is under virtual house arrest after allegedly confessing to sharing his knowledge. The government says Abdul Qadeer Khan admits that he smuggled secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, something the U.N. and U.S. had long suspected.
Khan has been sacked as a presidential adviser, but whether he and when he'll be prosecuted remains to be seen.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi joins us by phone from Islamabad -- Ash- Har.
ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Kyra.
Well, the government has got itself in a tough position, right now. As you mentioned, Dr. Khan is considered an eminent scientist, a hero in Pakistan for creating the nuclear program and the deterrent in Pakistan.
Now already critics and opposition party members here in Pakistan are questioning why Dr. Khan is being singled out. A lot of people asking how it was possible that Dr. Khan could have transferred these secrets so long without anybody in the military or in the government here in Pakistan having known about it.
Now the government, from the beginning of their investigation, which began back in November, has said that there's been no sanction by the government, rather, to transfer any technology to third countries. And they said nobody in the government ever has or ever will sanction any transfer of nuclear technology. Basically absolving themselves of having any wrongdoing in this.
Now a lot of people are asking what evidence there is against Dr. Khan. We expect Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf later this week to address the nation and take them into confidence and discuss this confessing that we're hearing about today, from Dr. Khan.
And as to what's going to happen next, that's still a big question. Whether or not he'll be prosecuted in the courts, or whether or not some sort of administrative action will be taken against him. That's still another big question -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ash-Har Quraishi, live from Islamabad, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Confessing to Passing Nuclear Info>
Aired February 2, 2004 - 13:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Pakistan where the founder of that nation's nuclear program, a long-time national hero, is under virtual house arrest after allegedly confessing to sharing his knowledge. The government says Abdul Qadeer Khan admits that he smuggled secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, something the U.N. and U.S. had long suspected.
Khan has been sacked as a presidential adviser, but whether he and when he'll be prosecuted remains to be seen.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi joins us by phone from Islamabad -- Ash- Har.
ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Kyra.
Well, the government has got itself in a tough position, right now. As you mentioned, Dr. Khan is considered an eminent scientist, a hero in Pakistan for creating the nuclear program and the deterrent in Pakistan.
Now already critics and opposition party members here in Pakistan are questioning why Dr. Khan is being singled out. A lot of people asking how it was possible that Dr. Khan could have transferred these secrets so long without anybody in the military or in the government here in Pakistan having known about it.
Now the government, from the beginning of their investigation, which began back in November, has said that there's been no sanction by the government, rather, to transfer any technology to third countries. And they said nobody in the government ever has or ever will sanction any transfer of nuclear technology. Basically absolving themselves of having any wrongdoing in this.
Now a lot of people are asking what evidence there is against Dr. Khan. We expect Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf later this week to address the nation and take them into confidence and discuss this confessing that we're hearing about today, from Dr. Khan.
And as to what's going to happen next, that's still a big question. Whether or not he'll be prosecuted in the courts, or whether or not some sort of administrative action will be taken against him. That's still another big question -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Ash-Har Quraishi, live from Islamabad, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Confessing to Passing Nuclear Info>
