ISLAMABAD, May 30: Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has clarified his remarks about two senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and S. M. Zafar, and has said that these have not been correctly reported by Dawn.

In a statement emailed by his wife Henny Khan, Dr Khan said the report gave a false impression that he had blamed his ‘most dear and respected friends’ for what he had to go through.

“This is not true,” he said, without directly contradicting the report. “Mr S. M. Zafar did not encourage me to give any confession, he actually discouraged me to give or sign any confession,” Dr A. Q. Khan said in the clarification.

According to his statement, “betrayal was done by those whom the nation already knows”.

The Dawn’s report was based on an interview Dr A. Q. Khan gave to DawnNews’ Saima Mohsin for its flagship programme ‘News Eye’.

Here is the verbatim transcript of the part of the interview that Dr Khan has tried to clarify:

Saima Mohsin: What promises were made Dr Khan?

A. Q. Khan: Promises was made…made...was made that I will be a totally free

man, that I will be rehabilitated, that nothing would be wrong, that I could move around, and, and I will have my self respect...all this and nothing came out of it.

Saima Mohsin: And what were you scared of if you didn’t make that confession?

A. Q. Khan: I was not scared, I’m not at all scared. I thought it was in the national interest. I did it. My very good friends S. M. Zafar and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, they…they came to me quite often…and they talked to me…and they said… well just think it over and then get over with it...otherwise we we we (stutter) will be continuously in the loop and trouble...and and a lot of pressure on the country...and...our…

Saima Mohsin interrupts with another question: Did you think that would be the end of it. Do you feel betrayed?

A. Q. Khan: Yeah sure I feel betrayed.