Khan admits illegal transfers of nuclear materials
ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (DPA) The scientist known as the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb has admitted having supplied nuclear-related materials to Libya, North Korea and Iran in violation of national and international laws, official sources said in a briefing to a select group of Pakistani journalists.
Abdul Qadeer Khan made the statement under oath, the sources yesterday said.
Journalists attending the briefing, however, were not shown the statement and it has not been independently confirmed.
Khan, who was removed Saturday from his post as advisor to the prime minister on nuclear affairs, said Dubai was the hub of business that occurred under his instructions.
He was able to direct the operations because of the immunity that he enjoyed as the head of the country's clandestine nuclear programme, the officials said of the nationally revered scientist, who was practically put under house arrest after he was removed from his post.
Officials say no legal action has been taken against Khan and six other Kahutta Research Laboratories (KRL) personnel, but president Pervez Musharraf is expected to make major announcements later this week when he adresses the nation, possibly on Wednesday.
Khan founded the KRL in 1976 and headed it until his retirement from the organisation in 2001 and subsequent appointment to the advisory post.
His removal on Saturday was the result of interrogation of about a dozen KRL scientists which had began in late November after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the government of Iran disclosed sources of supplies for Teheran's nuclear programme.
Private Pakistani television channels also reported that the report based on the findings of the "debriefing sessions" with seven scientists and KRL officials, including Khan, has been submitted to Musharraf, who has promised "stern action" against "nuclear proliferators" and who has called on other countries to unearth the "nuclear under world located in major european countries." Seven Indians among Mina stampede victims DUBAI, Feb 2 (UNI) Atleast seven Indians were among the 244 Haj pilgrims killed in yesterday's stampede at Mina in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, the Indian consulate general in Jeddah today said.
They were identified as Ghulam Mohammad Mir (40) from Anantnag district in Jammu & Kashmir Muhammad Ali (40) from Kozhikode and Ummer (60) from Kannur district in Kerala Mohammed Mohiuddin (56) from Malda district, West Bengal Abdul Rehman (70) from Tonk in Rajasthan Nasreen (25) and Amir Ahmad (53) both from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
However a Reuters report quoting an interior ministry list published by the Saudi Press Agency said the number of Indian casualties was 11.
The stampede occured at the Jamrat bridge in Mina, where pilgrims gather to throw stones at the 'great Aqaba,' pillars (representing the devil) on the day of the Eid-ul-Zuha festival.
Over two million pilgrims were reported to be at the spot, walking over and under the 15-metre wide bridge which spans a small valley between two cliffs, the scene several stampedes in recent years.
The largest number of casualties were from Indonesia and Pakistan.
As many as 53 of the victims are yet to be identified.
About 1.2 lakh Indian Muslims, including 8,943 from Jammu and Kashmir, are performing the Haj this year.
More than 60 Indian pilgrims have died of various causes during this year's pilgrimage.
Last year 14 pilgrims, including six women, were killed in a stampede on the first day of the stoning ritual and 35 people had died in a similar incident in 2001.
In 1998, 118 pilgrims were killed and more than 180 were hurt at Mina.
The worst such tragedy in recent years occured in July 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a tunnel, also in Mina.
'Tiger' Niazi, the commander of East Pakistan in '71, dead ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (UNI) Lt Gen (Retd) Amir Abdullah Khan 'Tiger' Niazi, the commander of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, died late last night following a heart attack.
Gen Niazi (89), complained of chest pains after breakfast yesterday morning and was taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Lahore, where he breathed his last late last night, media reports today said.
His daughter Rauf told 'Dawn' that Gen Niazi, a diabetic who also had respiratory problems, had earlier suffered a heart attack about two weeks ago but his condition had improved since then.
Born on January 1, 1915 in Mianwali, he was commissioned into the army in 1942, during World War II, and saw service in the Burma campaign, where he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).
One of Pakistan's most decorated soldiers, he held various command positions in Pakistan army and won the Hilal-e-Jurrat in the 1965 India-Pakistan war.
Appointed the Commander of the East Pakistan theatre in 1971 in succession to Gen Tikka Khan after the erstwhile Eastern province of Pakistan had erupted in revolt, Lt Gen Niazi was tasked with handling the Indian intervention in support of the Bangladeshis.
The Indian superiority in men and arms proved too much for the Belaguered Garrison, and he surrendered his forces to Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora at Dhaka on December 16, 1971.
Imprisoned in Calcutta and Bareilly by the Indians along with the 93000 Prisoners Of War, he was released in 1974 and returned to Pakistan, where he was retired from the army.
He was also kept under protective custody under the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto regime, only being released when Gen Zia ul-Haq came to power.
Lt Gen Niazi wrote his autobiography, 'the betrayal of East Pakistan,' in which he accused several civil and military officials around the then president, Gen Yahya Khan, at conniving at the loss of East Pakistan, by withholding troops and supplies to his command and not carrying diversionary attacks in the Western theatre.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters.
About us | Advertise | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Weather | Letters | Send Mail Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information hosted on this website is accurate CHAIRMAN: VED BHASIN Kashmir Times Group of Publications Edited, printed and published by Prabodh Jamwal Editor-in-Chief, The Kashmir Times, Residency Road, Jammu, J&K, INDIA.
Executive Editor: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal E-Mail: vbhasin@sancharnet.in, jmt_prabodh@sancharnet.in