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| 12 February 2004 | Thursday | 20 Zilhaj 1424 |
Nobody above law, says Kasuri
WARSAW, Feb 11: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Wednesday nobody was above the law, despite the country's top nuclear scientist was pardoned after he admitted he shared information with other countries.
"We take international responsibilities very seriously. Nobody will be spared. Nobody is above the law," Mr Kasuri told a joint news conference with Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz during a two-day visit to Poland.
"And this includes the father of the Pakistani nuclear programme Dr Khan," he said. "A very strict watch is being kept on him". Last week, Mr Khan publicly admitted his role in a black market operation trading in nuclear information with Iran, North Korea and Libya.
President Pervez Musharraf, calling Mr Khan a national hero for bringing technology for the nuclear bomb to Pakistan, then pardoned him on the federal cabinet's recommendation.
Mr Kasuri said the probe into the sale of nuclear secrets had been launched following information from several countries' intelligence agencies, including that of the US, and the IAEA, which had provided the names.
"There were two Pakistanis, one was a businessman, one was a scientist... Then there were three Germans, one Dutch, one Sri Lankan based in Dubai. On the basis of this information we conducted an inquiry which lasted about 70 days in which we arrested 11 people," he said, saying the probe was still continuing.
He said that among the people under investigation was "Dr Khan's assistant - very high ranking," he said. -AFP
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