Dr AQ Khan ‘Father of Pakistan’s nuclear program’ accorded state funeral
Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered as the “father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb”, breathed his last on Sunday morning in Islamabad. He was 85. He was buried at the H-8 graveyard.
He died at KRL Hospital in Islamabad. Dr. Khan was suffering from multiple ailments but doctors believed coronavirus was the cause of his death.
Dr Qadeer Khan, Pakistan’s top nuclear scientist, is hailed as a national hero for transforming his country into the world’s first Islamic nuclear power.
He was accorded a state funeral at Faisal Mosque as per the directions issued by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said. Top military and government officials attended the funeral at Faisal Mosque on Sunday afternoon. In many cities, funeral prayers were offered for him in absentia.
Flags were flown at half-mast on Sunday as the government declared one-day mourning on his demise that plunged the nation into grief.
National Hero
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is the man who transformed Pakistan into a nuclear power a
After learning of India’s nuclear test in 1974, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan joined Pakistan’s clandestine efforts to develop nuclear power. He founded the Khan Research Laboratories in 1976 and was both its chief scientist and director for many years. He was awarded Nishan-i-Imtiaz for his services to the country.
Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi said in a tweet he was “deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan,” whom he had known personally since 1982.
In a condolence tweet on Sunday, the President said Dr. AQ Khan “helped us develop nation-saving nuclear deterrence, and a grateful nation will never forget his services.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed heartfelt condolences over the demise of Pakistan’s celebrated nuclear scientist who was “a national icon” for the people of Pakistan. Prime Minister said that Dr Qadeer Khan “was loved by our nation” because of his critical contribution in making Pakistan a nuclear weapon state. “This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbor.”
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and all services chiefs expressed sorrow over the demise of Dr. Khan who “had rendered invaluable services to strengthen Pakistan’s defense capabilities.”