Top Pakistani scientist and national hero Abdul Qadeer Khan made a dramatic personal apology Wednesday for leaking atomic secrets, the latest twist in a proliferation scandal stretching from Libya to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).  

home as the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, absolved the government and fellow scientists of any blame in an apparent bid by all concerned to draw a line under the damaging affair.

Commentators said his confession smacked of a cover-up, possibly part of a wider deal to spare the powerful military unwanted scrutiny in any trial and allow Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to sidestep pressure from Islamists and nationalists.

The United States, which has urged Pakistan to stop illegal proliferation to what it considers "rogue" states, has publicly backed Musharraf.

"My dear brothers and sisters, I have chosen to appear before you to offer my deepest regrets and unqualified apologies," Khan said on state-run Pakistan Television.

"There was never ever any kind of authorization for these activities by the government. I take full responsibility for my actions and seek your pardon," the silver-haired 69-year-old added, speaking in English.

Western diplomats and many Pakistanis believe Khan could not have sold nuclear secrets and sent technology for enriching uranium abroad without the knowledge of top military officials.

A key part of the investigation focused on Khan's vast personal fortune, which local press reports say he amassed through selling secrets.

An open trial of Khan could lead to embarrassing evidence implicating the army, which Musharraf heads, and make a national martyr of the scientist. Analysts say Musharraf may have agreed to pardon Khan in return for his apology.

The National Command Authority, which oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and is headed by Musharraf, said Wednesday it had deferred Khan's "mercy petition" to the cabinet which is due to meet Thursday. In Washington the White House said a trial was a matter for Pakistan, but a spokesman added:

"We appreciate their efforts to address what is a serious concern, which is proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

Scandal may not be over

The appearance by Khan, at the center of an international storm over Pakistan's role in nuclear proliferation during the 1980s and 1990s, was greeted with skepticism.

Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said: "One doesn't know if it is a confession under duress, a confession being extorted from him or a confession that he is voluntarily making."

"There is no doubt that it is a cover-up," said Shahid-ur-Rehman, a Pakistani journalist and nuclear expert.

He said Khan's statement may not end the scandal.

"Has there been any violation of international law and will the international community accept the appeal of clemency, if the Pakistani government grants it?"

Khan sought to clear his fellow scientists, who he said acted under his instructions. Four other scientists have been questioned in the probe along with two brigadiers responsible for security at the nuclear facility where he worked.

A senior military official told Pakistani journalists on Sunday that Khan had made a detailed statement confessing to supplying designs, hardware and materials used to make enriched uranium for atomic bombs to Iran, Libya and the DPRK.

Khan has been reported in foreign media as saying he acted on the indirect instructions of two former army chiefs, Generals Aslam Beg and Jehangir Karamat. Beg has denied the charge.

A friend of Khan was also quoted by the Washington Post as saying the scientist told investigators Musharraf knew about the transfer of nuclear know-how to the DPRK, an allegation the military called absurd.

Musharraf has already made many enemies in Pakistan for supporting the US-led "war on terror" and trying to make peace with India. The general narrowly survived two assassination attempts late last year blamed on disgruntled Islamic militants.

The Islamic opposition has pounced on the government's treatment of Khan, saying he is a scapegoat hounded by the authorities because of pressure from the United States.

"I don't think people like A.Q.Khan should be tried. He is a national hero. He has developed the (nuclear) program," said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, head of the Islamic coalition which has threatened to call a national strike over the issue.

Pakistan originally denied its nuclear secrets and technology had been leaked, either officially or by individuals.

But it launched an investigation in November after the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency provided evidence pointing to Pakistani involvement in Iran's nuclear program. Similar links have been found with Libya.

(China Daily February 5, 2004)