ISLAMABAD - Founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and president of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan (TTP), Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, disclosed on Sunday that the nuclear programme’s budget never exceeded $25 million, while no smuggling had been done to achieve nuclear capability.
Addressing a book launch ceremony, Dr Qadeer said that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan was heading the nuclear programme of the country. He said the budget for the country’s nuclear programme never exceeded $25 million, including all expenditures. He said the then Chief of Army Staff, General (r) Mirza Aslam Beg, was shocked to know the modest budget, adding that Beg had said that he had been earlier told that $1 billion were being spent on the nuclear programme annually.
The former nuclear scientist said that the rumours about smuggling of various parts and technology were baseless and untrue, as at that time anything could be imported through the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.
Talking to reporters later, he said that his political party – the TTP – had been registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), adding that his party had been allotted “missile” as election symbol.
To a question, he said the TTP had entered into alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami, and an accord had been reached in this regard. However, he added that his party was also in contact with other political parties to expand the alliance if needed.
Dr Qadeer said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif had made a major mistake by not uniting all factions of the PML.
To another query, he said that he had not been contacted so far on the question of caretaker prime minister.
Source: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/03/03/news/national/pakistans-nuclear-budget-never-exceeded-25m-dr-qadeer/
No comments:
Post a Comment