ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (DPA) Top Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan did not confess to leaking nuclear know-how to Iran, Libya and North Korea, despite government claims, said influential Islamic leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed today.
Talking to private TV 'Geo', Qazi who also heads the six-party religious alliance Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said he talked to Khan by mobile phone after media reports he had confessed to having indulged in proliferation.
Official sources on Sunday said Khan, revered at home as the 'Father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb' had admitted to having supplied nuclear-related materials to Libya, Iran and North Korea in a statement he made under oath.
The claim could not be independently verified.
"I tried to reach him and finally managed to make contact through his mobile phone and he (Khan) denied that he has given any such statement," Qazi said.
He did not say when he talked to the nuclear scientist.
Khan has been removed from his post as advisor to the prime minister on nuclear affairs amid allegations of his clandestine links to nuclear programmes of Iran and Libya.
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 addresses the nation.
However, Qazi quoted Dr Khan as saying that he has been confined to his residence and no one was allowed to see him.
Khan founded the KRL in 1976 and headed it until his retirement from the organization in 2001 and subsequent appointment to the advisory post.
His removal on Saturday was the result of the interrogations of about a dozen KLl 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.
India, Nepal to have extradition pact soon KATHMANDU, Feb 3 (UNI) Nepal and India have agreed to give final shape to a proposed extradition treaty and an agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters at the end of the home secretary level meeting in Kathmandu.
"Both sides briefed about the efforts of expert groups of the two countries to give final shape to the proposed extradition treaty and agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters," said a joint press release at the end of the meeting today.
They reiterated their commitment to finalise the treaty at an early date.
However, there is no information on specific date about the finalisation of the pact.
The two sides agreed that they fully shared the objective of combating transborder crime and terrorism and that they were also committed to devise effective modalities and measures to reinforce their existing co-operation.
India said it would fully cooperate with Nepal to combat terrorism, including the maoist insurgencey, along the border.
Asked about the extradition of the Maoists, India's home secretary N Gopalswami asked, "why should we keep them at state hospitality? We would also like to send them back.
India has extradited 57 maoists out of 97 arrested in India." Both sides reiterated their commitment not to permit their respective territories to be used for activities directed against the other side, the statement said.
The two sides reviewed the progress in implementation of the decisions taken at the previous meetings between the home secretaries of the two countries and expressed their satisfaction over the results achieved so far.
The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, it said.
Discussion was also held in the upgradation of the four custom offices in the border areas Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Birgunj and Biratnagar control the smuggling in the border.
India has been providing training to Nepali officials about the detection of the fake currency.
"It will be done according to the needs of Nepal," Gopalswami said.
The next meeting of the home secretaries will be held next year in New Delhi.
Goplaswami also met Nepal's prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, who is also looking after the home ministry, and apprised him of the meeting.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation on matters of mutual interest, Nepal's foreign ministry said.
The Nepalese delegation was led by home secretary Anant Raj Pandey Gopalswami, who will take charge as Indias' Election Commissioner on February 8, Left for India this afternoon.
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