India slams Pak for AQ Khan's acquittal

Raising serious concern over Pakistan's controversial nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan's acquittal by the Islamabad High Court as a menace for the world peace, India has slammed Pakistan for acting dishonestly.

In the first reaction, Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, said that Pakistan has always allowed individuals to act in a fashion detrimental to world security. He said that world should have no confusion about Pakistan’s intention that how clean chits are being given to those who have been indulged in nuclear proliferation.

The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the release of Khan, accused of running a clandestine nuclear proliferation ring, as a free citizen amid media reports of an out-of-court settlement with the government. Khan was placed under house arrest five years ago (2004) after admitting selling nuclear technology and materials to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

Shortly after the announcement of Khan’s release from the house arrest, UK asked Pakistan to grant International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to the disgraced nuclear scientist to question him on his proliferation activities, particularly selling nuclear secrets to countries like Iran and North Korea.

Khan, who is also wanted for questioning by US and other investigators, told media he was “not obliged” to answer to any foreigner or anybody, except his government. He further said: “Let them talk. Are they happy with our God or our Prophet? Are they happy with our leaders? Never, so why should we bother what they say about us?”

Expressing deep concern over Khan’s release order, United States asserted that the nuclear scientist remains a serious proliferation risk. US also sought assurance from Islamabad that Khan is not involved in any of the activity that led to his arrest.

“The President and this government want assurances that Khan is not involved or engaged in any of the activity that resulted in his house arrest earlier,” said the White House Spokesperson, Robert Gibbs.

The US had last month imposed sanctions on Khan, 12 associates and three firms and barred them from doing business with the American government or private companies.