PPP termed briefing to MPs on nuclear proliferation an eyewash

The Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) has described as an eyewash a briefing to parliamentarians on alleged nuclear proliferation gang headed by Dr A.Q. Khan. The party termed the exercise an effort by the Musharraf regime to protect real individuals behind the proliferation.
Strategic Planning Division director-general Lieutenant-General Khalid Kidwai claimed in a parliamentary briefing on Friday nuclear scientist Dr. A.Q. Khan had named two former aides of Benazir Bhutto in the "de-briefing" sessions on his proliferation efforts.
Khalid claimed Khan did not name any state functionary, except two dead individuals, former defence advisor Major-General Imtiaz Ahmed and Dr. Zafar Niazi.
In the briefing, the private nuclear proliferation by Dr. Khan was also described as a "sole act of an individual".
In a statement here on Sunday, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said his party rejected this view of the Musharraf regime's functionary as a "massive cover-up".
He said two dead men, who could not defend themselves, were being named.
However, the military regime failed to explain how Dr. A.Q. Khan managed to break through the military security cordon and smuggled out centrifuge units weighing tons when PPP leaders were under arrest, in exile or being hounded by the establishment for wanting to build a moderate federal and democratic state ending the exploitation of masses.
General Musharraf had personally pardoned Dr. Khan after his confession which he would have never done if he thought that Khan was in any way connected to the PPP appointed defence adviser or with a PPP family friend.
This gave rise to the suspicion the Musharraf regime was covering up real faces involved in the proliferation of nuclear technology which have undermined Pakistan's nuclear capability and given rise to new tensions with the international community, the spokesman said.
He said it was foolish of the Musharraf regime to try and cover up Khan affair by blaming dead men linked to its opponents.
"As such claims like these have no credibility nor do they answer questions as to how Khan and individuals concerned could have broken through security cordons and have access to military aircraft," the statement added.