Director General of Pakistan's Strategic Planning Division Lt Gen (retd.) Khalid Qidwai on Saturday denied that the state has involved but said Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan had himself involved in supplying centrifuges to a foreign country.
Speaking at a news conference, Qidwai said that Khan, the country's nuclear scientist, wanted to sideline himself and tried to drag the military intelligence Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the president and the army into the matter.
"Dr. Khan gave some baseless interviews. He has tried to show that he was not involved in the supply of centrifuges and that it was done by the state. It is a totally baseless approach," Qidwai said.
Qidwai said that Khan's statements had damaged the country's interest, adding that international media did not believe in the integrity of the government due to his statements.
Qidwai said Khan had tendered apology to the president and had signed a draft of apology prepared by the National Command Authority (NCA). "The same document is also in the record," he said.
Qidwai said all evidences would be produced in the court in case it was needed.
He said Khan, in recent interviews, had violated commitments inthe draft, adding that Khan had himself put conditions in the draft. He said that there was no plan to withdraw his security.
The issue of pardon to Khan was not the result of any deal but he had himself tendered apology and the government had offered him to prepare a draft, Qidwai said. But he had told the authorities to prepare the draft.
"The NCA had prepared the draft and Dr. Khan made some amendments and improved the language and signed it," said Qidwai.
He denied Khan's statement that he was forced to sign the draft.
Qidwai said that Khan had committed that he would not talk about the national security and would follow the "state line".
He said there would be no change in the security plan of Khan. Khan is not under house arrest but all facilities are being provided to him, Qidwai added.
"He is using those vehicles he had been using in the past. He had been given land line phone and also a mobile. But he is misusing the facilities," said Qidwai.
Source: Xinhua
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