KARACHI, Feb 1: Politicians representing a cross section of the population have condemned the removal of the famous nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan from the position of adviser to the prime minister on the strategic programme.

Terming the step a shameful action, they said Dr Khan was a national hero whose contribution to the defence of the country made it invincible. Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, the deputy chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, said that under foreign instructions the saviour of the nation was being declared guilty. Its attitude had transformed the government into something which threatened the good name as well as the nuclear capability of the country.

Prof Ghafoor demanded that before taking further steps the government should take the parliament into confidence and also present its case before the higher judiciary. Even before the "Eid-i-Qurban" the country's patriotic scientists had been made scapegoats.

Meraj Mohammad Khan said let the government point its fingers towards Dr Khan for alleged proliferation, links with the underworld and corruption. The people of Pakistan would never accept all this because he is their hero.

Referring to the threat given by the US to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said if anything happen to Dr Khan it would be another great tragedy in Pakistan's history. Speaking of the possibility that Dr Khan will be murdered, which could be termed a suicide, Mr Khan appealed to the Supreme Court and other patriotic forces in the country to take note of the situation.

The government was responsible for proliferation, provided it did take place, because the command and control of nuclear assets was with the authorities, he said.

Mian Ejaz Shafi, Chief Organiser of the PML-N Sindh, said it was next to impossible for any scientist to get involved in nuclear proliferation to Iran as the entire programme was under the Command and Control Authority.

Terming unjustified the government's action at this initial stage of investigations, he said seeing the fate of Dr Khan people would think twice before doing any good deed for the country.