Dr Khan speaks

DURING his interviews with Waqt TV and another private channel, Dr AQ Khan has made a number of highly significant observations. He said the confession he read out on the TV "was my mistake". In other words he was made to say things about his being responsible for proliferation which were incorrect. With hindsight he thinks he should have spoken in his own words and changed things. Those who made him read out the statement wanted to turn him into a "scapegoat", which in plain language implies that he was made to take responsibility for acts actually committed by others. Dr Khan is, however, reluctant to identify them at this stage though he has promised to make further revelations at an appropriate time. Despite maintaining silence over the issue, Dr Khan has made an incriminating hint. He says he was not a party to any illegal or unauthorized deal. According to him "this one sentence covers all". Does it mean he had been authorized to do whatever he has been accused of, apparently by some higher individual or body controlling the KRL? That a highly respectable scientist, considered widely as the father of Pakistan's atom bomb, should be made to suffer humiliation and kept in detention for more than four years to cover up the indiscretions of others, is regrettable. This needs an enquiry by the ruling coalition to fix the responsibility and find the motives behind the cover-up.