Pakistani Who Passed On Nuclear Secrets to Iran Is Freed
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A senior Pakistani scientist suspected of helping leak nuclear weapons technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea has been released after two years in detention, an army spokesman said yesterday.
Mohammed Farooq, who worked at Pakistan’s top nuclear weapons facility, was detained in December 2003, along with 10 others, when it was revealed the head of the facility, Abdul Qadeer Khan, gave sensitive technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea.
Mr. Farooq, who was director general at Khan Research Laboratories, was suspected of leaking technology on Khan’s orders.
He was freed last week, an army spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan, told the Associated Press.
Asked whether Mr. Farooq would be allowed to keep his job at the laboratories, General Sultan said only that “he has been advised to restrict his movement and activities and stay at home for security reasons.”
General Sultan would not say whether Mr. Farooq had been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Mr. Farooq was the last of the 11 people detained in 2003 who remained in custody. The 11 – scientists, security, and administration personnel who worked at the lab – were detained for questioning over the spread of nuclear technology in the alleged black market network that Mr. Khan headed.
There was no immediate comment from Mr. Farooq or his family. The other nuclear officials have avoided speaking with the media or discussing their detention publicly after their release.
In February 2004, Mr. Khan confessed that he sold nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.
But President Musharraf pardoned him due to his role in giving Pakistan a nuclear prowess to rival that of neighboring India. The two countries carried out nuclear tests in 1998.
Mr. Khan, who is regarded as a national hero by many Pakistanis, has since been confined to his home in the capital, Islamabad, amid tight security. Officials have said Mr. Khan’s movement has been curtailed for security concerns.
A close American ally in the war against terrorism, Pakistan has rejected Washington’s requests for access to Mr. Khan for questioning on nuclear black marketing.
