Real hero falls from grace in Pakistan

It further said even the top brass in the Pakistani Army have taken serious note of the growing differences among the scientists over claiming the credit for the tests and had cautioned them not to issue statements against each other.

The daily expressed its apprehensions that Dr Khan’s statement to the national and international media on Sunday that he now wants to seek retirement might be because of the recent statements by some scientists that thePAEC was in fact responsible for the tests and Dr Khan who headed the Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) had nothing to do with it.

A statement from the top Army officials in Rawalpindi today said nuclear tests were not the result of the efforts of any one person or institution rather it was the result of a teamwork, Ausaf said.

The daily further claimed that Dr Khan was in fact dejected because of an official move to launch a programme to promote Dr Samar’s name, who was heading the team of scientists at the Chaghi Hills in Baluchistan where the tests were carried out.

It also quoted sources at the Khan Research Laboratory who revealed that Dr Khan’s retirement plans and his desire to devote his time to writing books were indeed true.

In fact the controversy over who should be credited with the Pakistan’s six nuclear tests on May 28 and 30 rose immediately when some conflicting statements were issued by some scientists attached with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

Moreover, probably forthe first time in the last couple of days, public statements about country’s nuclear and missile programme came from none other Dr Samar issuing details of the nuclear tests and also about possible testing of medium range Shaheen missile.