Pak’s ex-Army chief denies approving sales

A former Pakistani Army chief today denied accusations that he had approved the alleged sale of nuclear weapons expertise and technology to Iran and Libya by Pakistan’s top scientists. ‘‘That is all fabricated, a lie and allegation,’’ Retired General Aslam Beg, who was Army Chief of Staff from 1988 to 1991, told the BBC in an interview.

Scientists interrogated since December over allegations of nuclear proliferation have accused Beg and top Army brass of sanctioning the transfers, according to officials familiar with the investigation. Beg said Pakistani nuclear scientists had contact with the international black market. ‘‘Our scientists had a mandate by the government starting from 1976 to complete the program and they did come in contact with the underworld.

‘‘They collected whatever they could from all over the world.’’ He said the scientists may have ‘‘as a matter of courtesy’’ told ‘‘Libyan and Iranian friends ‘go to so-and-so shop, go to so-and-so person, there he is selling what you want, go and collect it’.’’

Meanwhile, a senior minister defended Dr A.Q. Khan, saying the architect of the country’s nuclear programme is not a suspect. ‘‘There is no evidence against Dr Khan and he is not a suspect as yet,’’ Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat was quoted as saying by The Nation today. With a number of reports implying Khan’s link in nuclear proliferation, Hayat said: ‘‘It is premature to term Dr Khan a suspect.’’