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Chronology of Pakistan
February 2004
36 Pakistanis amongst 244 pilgrims trampled to death in Mecca
Feb 1: Thirty six Pakistanis were among 244 Muslim pilgrims trampled to death or suffocated during a ritual stoning marking the end of the hajj, the Saudi interior ministry said.
Shared information with Iran, Libya and N-Korea, says Dr. Qadeer
Feb 1: Final report regarding debriefing of the nuclear scientists was presented to President General Pervez Musharraf. The report has some startling disclosures including confessional statements of Dr. Abdul Qadeer and other nuclear scientists about sharing sensitive nuclear information with Libya, Iran and North Korfea, Geo TV reported.
We escaped after breaking open the door: Naeemullah Shahani
Feb 2: The missing saga of Punjab Minister for Culture and Sports Naeemullah Shahani ends as he appeared in public, from what he said as , the escape from the clutches of kidnappers. While talking with the Geo TV Naeemullah Shahani informed that he was kidnapped along with four other persons seven kilometers from Bannu when he was going for condolence for the death of his wife’s aunty in Miran Shah. “On the day of Eid-ul-Azha we took advantage of their absence by breaking open the door and escaped.” He said, “the people in the vicinity helped us a lot and we reached Miran Shah police station after walking a distance of around two and half kilometers.”
Banned extremist outfits restricted from collecting hides on Eid in Pakistan
Feb 2: Pakistan has put police on high alert and barred banned extremist outfits from collecting hides of sacrificial animals during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Azha to prevent them from raising funds, officials said. Several Islamic parties, Jihadi outfits and charities used to collect thousands of hides, which were sold to leather traders and had been a good source of income to fund their operations.
Decision up to Pakistan: US: Fate of scientists
Feb 3: The US state department said that it would be up to the Pakistan government to make a decision "as to what should happen to individuals and programs" following admissions by scientists that they had transferred nuclear technology to other countries. Welcoming the outcome of the investigations, spokesman Richard Boucher observed: "It marks the sign of how seriously the government takes the commitments that President Musharraf has made to make sure that his nation is not a source of prohibited technologies for other countries."
Nuclear founder Qadeer Khan seeks nation's forgiveness
Feb 4: The architect of Pakistan's nuclear program asked the nation to "pardon him" for his unauthorized transfer of nuclear technology to other countries, in a statement he read out on state television.
Qadeer Khan meets President Musharraf, seeks clemency
Feb 4: The founder of Pakistan's nuclear programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, accepted full responsibility for all leaks of Pakistani nuclear data and sought clemency from President Pervez Musharraf, a government statement said. This he said in his meeting with Pakistna’s President General Pevez Musharraf held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad. Khan had also "submitted his mercy petition to the president and requested for clemency," it said.
Qazi Hussain flays govt for debasing A.Q.Khan
Feb 4: Opposition leader and chief of Jamat Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed has criticized the government for "humiliating" the "nuclear heroes." While talking to Geo TV, Ahmed said his party would use Kashmir Solidarity Day tomorrow "to condemn government policy towards nuclear scientists."
Army looking into detained officials' assets
Feb 4: The army is looking into the assets of senior KRL officials who are under protective custody of an intelligence agency for 'debriefing', a source told Dawn. The source said that army's audit department had been told to audit the assets to find out if these scientists had made any personal gains by transferring nuclear technology to other states.
'Washington gets Libyan warhead designs'
Feb 4: The United States has obtained from Libya a small box containing warhead designs that American officials believe were sold to Tripoli by the underground network linked to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan , The New York Times said. Experts familiar with the contents of the box say the designs closely resemble the warheads that China tested in the late 1960s and passed on to Pakistan decades ago, the Times said.
US reposes confidence in probe
Feb 4: The US State Department has declined to hold the government of Pakistan responsible for nuclear technology transfer by some scientists and said: "We think they (Pakistan government) are addressing the issue in a serious manner and we've been following this closely," spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Dr A.Q. Khan pardoned
Feb 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf pardoned Dr A.Q. Khan, the man accused of being involved in nuclear proliferation, on the recommendation of the federal cabinet, which met in Islamabad earlier in the day. Speaking at a crowded press conference at the Army House auditorium, the president announced the decision and, at the same time, vowed to continue the country's nuclear program "come what may." He gave full credit to Dr Khan for developing the country's nuclear deterrent and called him a hero, but said he could not have sacrificed the country to save a hero.
Dr Qadeer 'forced' to give statement
Feb 5: Deputy opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that Dr Qadeer Khan was forced to give a confession statement and called it an insult of both the nuclear scientist and the nation.
Removal of Dr Khan widely condemned
Feb 5: People from different segments of the society condemned the unseating of the father of the country's nuclear program, Dr AQ Khan, from his public office and in-house arrest for three months. Talking to newsmen in Texila, PPP, Wah Cantonment Chapter President Malik Najeebur Rehman said the unseating of Dr AQ Khan and the negative propaganda against him was an insult to the entire nation. He said Dr AQ Khan had been made a scapegoat just to save the skin of a handful of generals who had leaked nuclear secrets to Korea, Libya and Iran.
No rollback of nuke, missile programmes
Feb 5: President Pervez Musharraf emphatically said on Thursday that Pakistan would never rollback its nuclear and missile programs. "I will be the last man to rollback the nuclear and missile programs. There will be no compromise on vital national interests. If need be, I will sacrifice my life in defending and protecting them," the president told a crowded news conference.
Ex-generals termed ‘pseudo philosophers’
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf contemptuously dubbed as pseudo philosophers some retired army generals, who continue to attack his policies on different counts. Musharraf said one pseudo intellectual, Mirza Aslam Beg, has admitted that uranium enrichment was brought down to five per cent from 95 per cent in 1989 after a decision by the National Command Authority. No such authority existed at the time, he said. That was a rollback because uranium enrichment was stopped without reaching the minimum deterrence level, the president said.
People in 5 states involved: IAEA
Feb 5: The UN nuclear agency chief said Pakistan's top nuclear scientist was not working alone in creating an illicit network to sell nuclear technology to Libya, Iran and North Korea but had lots of help. "Dr (Abdul Qadeer) Khan was not working alone," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El Baradei told reporters in Vienna, adding he had help from people in many countries. "Dr Khan is the tip of an iceberg for us."
Warlord handed over to Kabul
Feb 5: Pakistani police have handed to Afghan authorities a warlord they arrested three months ago who had fought the rule of President Hamid Karzai, an official said in Kabul. "Yesterday Padsha Khan Zadran, along with his brother Amanullah Khan Zadran, was handed over to the Afghan authorities at the Torkham border," deputy spokesman for Karzai, Hamid Elmi, told AFP. Padsha Khan, an anti-Taliban warlord who helped the United States-led forces during an operation against the extremist Islamic regime, was briefly governor of southeastern Khost province following the toppling of the Taliban in late 2001. But he became a strident opponent of Karzai's administration after he was sacked from his post shortly after the Taliban fell.
Partial strike observed on MMA's call
Feb 6: A partial strike was observed in all cities and towns of the country in response to the call given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to condemn the detention of the father of the country's nuclear program, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, and other scientists. Business and commercial activities were affected in Karachi and Quetta, but the effect of the strike was less in other cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar, media reports said.
Amin Fahim contests president's authority on pardon
Feb 6: ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, disputing Gen Musharraf's authority to pardon nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan after holding him guilty of nuclear proliferation, demanded that the matter should be taken to parliament for a final decision. In case the government was not in a mood to take people's representatives into confidence, parliament should be dissolved as there was no justification for such a powerless and helpless house to stay, he said while talking to Dawn.
Indian statement rejected
Feb 6: Pakistan dismissed as unwarranted a statement by Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha that the disclosure by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan on leaking secrets be debated by the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The investigations in Pakistan are an internal matter," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said. "The buck stops here in Pakistan. The matter won't be debated elsewhere," he told AFP.
US accepts Pakistan's decision: Powell
Feb 6: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Washington accepted Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf's decision to pardon nuclear scientists Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. "This is a matter between Mr Khan, who is a Pakistani citizen, and his government. But it is a matter also that I'll be talking to President Musharraf about," he told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
FIR against Dr Khan sealed: ISPR
Feb 6: An FIR was registered against Dr A. Q. Khan by the Airport Police a few days back on the complaint of Brigadier Shoaib, KRL's director of security. Talking to Dawn, ISPR chief Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan confirmed the registration of the FIR and said it was sealed after President Pervez Musharraf pardoned Dr Khan.
Probe on track despite Pakistan’s refusal: IAEA
Feb 6: The UN atomic watchdog insisted that its investigation into Pakistani-led black market nuclear trading was on track despite Islamabad’s refusal to reveal documents or allow inspections of its facilities. "We are intensely interested in this black market because it impacts on our ability to complete our work in Iran and Libya," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesman Mark Gwozdecky told AFP.
Four European states to seek evidence from Pakistan
Feb 6: Four European countries want detailed account of the information extracted by Pakistani investigators during the debriefing of Pakistani scientists for their alleged involvement in nuclear trafficking, diplomats in Brussels told The News. The Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK would make direct contacts, next week with Islamabad through diplomatic channels with their separate requests for information on European involvement in the illegal transfer of nuclear technology to Iran and Libya as investigation on any violation of international non-proliferation treaties, under the EU laws, is the responsibility of member states, not the EU.
Iran, Libya role disappoints Pakistan
Feb 6: Pakistan is thoroughly disappointed and frustrated with Iran and Libya for naming of some of its top scientists, including Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, in the nuclear technology transfer case, Dawn said. Both happen to be Islamic countries, which stridently champion the cause of Muslims, and had been great opponents of the United States for its global policies towards the Muslims. As a result, Pakistan’s relations with Iran and Libya have un-precedentedly touched their lowest ebb. Had the two countries taken Pakistan into confidence before handing over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the lists of scientists and nuclear equipment and data, incriminating Islamabad, Pakistan would have been less crestfallen and disconsolate over their policy that they adopted under intense international pressure. Pakistan landed in a deep crisis after the documentary evidence provided by Iran and Libya to the IAEA was transmitted to it for scrutiny and checking. Islamabad could not refute it because the evidence proving nuclear proliferation by Dr Khan was beyond any doubt. This was what Pakistani investigators found during lengthy debriefing sessions with a set of scientists and security personnel.
126 Pakistani pilgrims die during Haj
Feb 7: At least 126 Pakistani pilgrims have died due to illnesses, stampede and accidents during Haj in Saudi Arabia. According to the information received in Islamabad from the Haj directorate in Makkah, 74 pilgrims died due to different ailments, 40 were killed in the stampede at Mina and 10 died in different accidents.
US helping protect N-assets: official
Feb 7: The United States is working with Pakistan to protect its nuclear technology from falling into the hands of extremists, a senior US official said. "We have had discussions with Pakistan on the need for Pakistan to safeguard its technology and its nuclear material. We are confident they are taking necessary steps," he told Reuters. The official commented after NBC Television's Nightly News program reported that since 9/11, American nuclear experts grouped as the 'US Liaison Committee' had spent millions of dollars to safeguard more than 40 weapons in Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "Meeting every two months, they are helping Pakistan develop state-of-the-art security, including secret authorization codes for the arsenal," the network reported.
Islamabad received CIA report on Dr Qadeer in Oct
Feb 7: Pakistan was left with no option but to institute a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged connections between a few Pakistani nuclear scientists headed by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan with the nuclear black market, when it was provided ‘mind boggling’ evidence by the top United States government officials, who arrived in Islamabad to meet top military leadership in the first week of October last year, The News quoted officials as saying.
Israel refuses to discuss N-program with IAEA
Feb 7: While top Pakistani nuclear scientists including Dr A Q Khan had to suffer rigorous debriefing sessions triggered by a letter from the Vienna-based UN agency, another de facto nuclear power, Israel, has chosen to pooh-pooh the International Atomic Energy Agency’s pursuit to discuss its nuclear program. In a recent contact, Israeli officials have told the IAEA that Israel was under no obligation to discuss its nuclear program with it as their country is not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a source in Vienna told The News.
Benazir backs Musharraf on sensitive issues: Rashid
Feb 7: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party and her party supports President Pervez Musharraf on sensitive issues. The minister said this in an interview with BBC after his meeting with Benazir Bhutto in New York during the 52nd Annual National Service. While commenting on the importance of his meeting with Benazir Bhutto, the minister said that it had no official importance. He added, "We have not discussed the political situation or exchanged complaints and counter complaints. It was only hello, hi and exchange of greetings."
Kasuri wants action against other 'actors'
Feb 8: Pakistan defended its decision to pardon a top scientist at the centre of a nuclear probe and said he was only one of many in the world spreading atomic know-how, mainly to Iran. Speaking at the close of a security conference in Munich, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency had provided Islamabad with names of other people involved in supplying such technology to other states. "I know the names, I don't wish to spell them out ... there are lots of Europeans involved and there are other countries involved," he said. The minister said Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had been punished in the past and had to be treated in a "balanced" way. "He is a national hero, because in the eyes of all Pakistanis he has brought about strategic balance in South Asia," said Mr Kasuri.
Pakistan, India not to sign NPT
Feb 8: India and Pakistan have reiterated their long-standing refusal to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but have pledged to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Pakistan ‘will not sign’ the NPT, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said at the end of the 40th annual security conference in Munich, which debated transatlantic ties, NATO and the Middle East. Indian government’s national security adviser Brajesh Mishra also ruled out that his country would sign the 1968 treaty, designed to limit the nuclear weapons only to five nations - US, Russia, China, Britain and France.
Patriots merge with PPP-Sherpao
Feb 8: The long-awaited merger of the Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao and the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Patriots (PPPPP) was announced in Charsadda on the occasion of 29th death anniversary of ex-governor NWFP Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao.
Rockets fired at LEAs’ camp
Feb 8: A gang of outlaws attacked a camp of law-enforcement agencies (LEA) near the Sindh-Balochistan border, while a truck of the LEA personnel destroyed, separately, after hitting a landmine. Area sources said that some 20 outlaws fired rockets on a camp of the Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) men, near Kot Mir Jan Chakrani. They fired eight rockets, out of which five landed in the nearby area, while the three hit the boundary wall of the camp, damaging it completely.
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