ISLAMABAD, 27 September 2007 — Pakistan’s government yesterday condemned former Premier Benazir Bhutto for saying she would let the UN quiz Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of the country’s nuclear bomb, if she regained power.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and hard-line Islamists also criticized Benazir for saying that she would allow UN inspectors, but not Western powers, to question scientist Qadeer Khan.
Qadeer in 2004 admitted passing atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. President Pervez Musharraf has refused to grant any outside access to the scientist, who was pardoned but remains under virtual house arrest.
“Pakistan cannot allow any interference in its affairs. We have ourselves investigated A.Q. Khan’s case, we don’t think it needs to be taken up again,” Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said. “There is a strong reaction in Pakistan over Benazir Bhutto’s statement on A.Q. Khan. I think her statement is based on some wrong information,” he told Geo TV.
Benazir, who has vowed to return to Pakistan on Oct. 18, said in Washington that “we do believe that IAEA... would have the right to question A.Q. Khan,” she said, referring to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. That could help satisfy the world community “that the illegal structure has been broken,” said Benazir.
“Many Pakistanis are cynical about whether A.Q. Khan could have done this without any official sanction,” she told the Middle East Institute, promising to hold parliamentary hearings on the question if re-elected prime minister.
“This is highly shameful statement,” Imran Khan said, adding that Benazir wanted the blessing of the United States to “take power and rid herself of corruption cases.” Two-time premier Benazir faces several graft claims which forced her abroad in 1999. “Benazir is doing everything to appease the United States,” said Liaquat Baloch, a senior member of the Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Front, the country’s main alliance of religious parties. “She wants to gain power and the people of Pakistan know that to achieve her objective she is ready to compromise the country’s nuclear program,” he told AFP. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, leader of the pro-Taleban Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam party, said Benazir’s statement was “against the solidarity and integrity of the country.”
Meanwhile, lawyers summed up arguments yesterday as Pakistan’s Supreme Court prepared to issue a landmark ruling on challenges to Gen. Musharraf’s bid for another term in an Oct. 6 presidential election. Musharraf and at least two other candidates are due to file election nomination papers today.
The Supreme Court is expected to reach a decision today or tomorrow on petitions by political parties seeking to block Musharraf’s bid for power.
The court is hearing petitions challenging Musharraf’s right to retain the posts of president and army chief, the legality of being elected in uniform, and whether he can get a mandate from outgoing assemblies.
A prominent opposition lawyer said Musharraf could not seek re-election while still army chief and the Election Commission should reject his nomination.
If not re-elected, Musharraf would remain army chief until a new president nominated a commander, the attorney-general said. President Musharraf said yesterday at an iftar party he would shed uniform voluntarily after the election.
Aitzaz Ahsan, a former minister in a civilian government in the late 1980s, said Musharraf was ineligible for re-election. “Being an army chief, he can’t even submit his nomination papers,” Ahsan told the court.
Amicus curiae S.M. Zafar told the court, “Gen. Pervez cannot contest election while being in uniform, but if allowed by the Election Commission he is bound to quit the post of army chief soon after his election.”
He said the permission given to Musharraf by the Supreme Court to hold both the offices was for a specific period that will end on Nov. 16, 2007. He said it is a constitutional requirement that the president quit the army post immediately after the announcement of the presidential election result.
