Islamabad: Dr Abdul Qadeer khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, said that Pakistan was capable of becoming a nuclear power in 1984 but the events turned around this way as then President General Zia ul Haq went against the move.
“We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984 but then President General Zia had opposed the move,” Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted the Pakistani scientist as saying.
General Zia was of the opinion that the world would stop military aid if Pakistan opted for the nuclear test, Khan added.
“Without my services Pakistan would never have been the first Muslim nuclear nation. We were able to achieve the capability under very tough circumstances, but we did it,” said Khan while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Youm-i-Takbeer on Saturday (the day Pakistan became a nuclear power state). Pakistan conducted nuclear test on May 28, 1998.
Referring to the treatment meted out to him during Musharraf’s rule, Khan said nuclear scientists in the country have not been given the respect that they deserve.
“We are facing the worst against our services to the country’s nuclear programme,” he added.