MULTAN: Veteran politician Javed Hashmi claims Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan told him that a group in the army was not in favour of Pakistan’s nuclear tests.

Talking to the media here on Thursday, the senior politician said the US attempted to roll back the nuclear programme but the democratic governments continued with the [nuclear] programme.

He said there was a group of people who did not want to see Pakistan a nuclear power.

“A lobby like Pervez Musharraf was agreed to compromise on country’s nuclear programme,” he claimed.

He said Benazir Bhutto did not cap the nuclear programme but she introduced missile programme.

He said Nawaz Sharif had refused to attend the calls from the US when Pakistan was going for nuclear detonation.

He said the former dictator disgraced hero of nuclear programme Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

“In 2003 at a ceremony hosted by the Saudi Arabian embassy, Dr Qadeer informed [the attendees] about the threats he was receiving from Pervez Musharraf. Admiral Abdul Aziz and Syed Mushahid Hussain were also present at that moment,” he said.

Mr Hashmi said at that time Dr Qadeer was disappointed as Musharraf had made life tough for him.

He said the person, who had withdrawn the security given to Benazir Bhutto, was her actual killer.

He said Pervez Musharraf had stated that he would not provide security to Benazir Bhutto, so he should be made accountable for the assassination of the former prime minister.

“Pervez Musharraf is the actual murderer of Benazir Bhutto and he should be brought back to Pakistan,” he said.

Hashmi said: “There is not a single leader [in parliament] who could hold talks with the US. The leader has been disqualified.”

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2017