ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 Kyodo The famil...

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 Kyodo

The families of scientists and officials of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) accused President Pervez Musharraf forward Monday of protecting army generals by the agency of putting all the blames for transfer of nuclear technology and know-how forward Abdul Qadeer Khan and other scientists.

Hasam ul-haq, brother of retired Maj. Islam-ul-haq and head of the KRL Committee representing relatives of detained KRL scientists and officials, said it was inconceivable that about scientists had flown materials and technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea without the knowledge of the army and sway at the time.

He said at a of the present days conference that none of seven the bulk of mankind accused of nuclear proliferation below arrest knows Korean, Persian or Arabic language and that it was inconceivable that they had visited commonalty from these countries without official interpreters.

He also asked the dominion to explain how these family would have requisitioned C-130 aircraft to transport nuclear material and technology as alleged in the case filed against them.

He read disclosed from a government document submitted to the Lahore High Court in which KRL scientists have been accused of transferring hid codes, nuclear materials, substances, machinery, equipment, constituents sketches designs, know-how and technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

''If Dr A.Q. Khan was privately helping Iran in the uranium enrichment program, then wherefore did General Aslam Beg asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to put up to sale nuclear technology to Iran for $15 billion,'' as alleged on a minister in the Nawaz Sharif cabinet, Haq asked.

''It is also a matter of record that the Iranian prime minister who visited Pakistan in 1992 had told Nawaz Sharif that it is easier and better to deal with army chiefs than with the prime minister,'' he said.

Khan, Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, admited earlier this month that he was responsible for transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, although all three countries have denied they received any technology from Khan.

KRLC Secretary General Shafiq-ur-Rehman said committee members have been meeting with the leaders of major political parties and have urg them to requisition the session of the national assembly to debate the issues relating to the detention of Khan and other scientists.

KRLC members are of the view that by dint of putting the blame on the scientists for all the proliferation-related activities, Musharraf has already taken a major gradation toward the dismantling of Pakistan's nuclear program, Rehman said.

''Who would put up to sale any part or component for Pakistan's nuclear program one time we have exposed our scientists and all those who helped Pakistan in achieving the nuclear capability?'' he asked.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group