Amjad Mehmood
—The 28th of May is a memorable day in the history of Pakistan and is celebrated as a National Day known as Youm-e-Takbeer to commemorate the contribution of unsung heroes in making Pakistan the first Muslim and seventh nation in the world to become a Nuclear state. On this day Pakistan launched a series of nuclear tests in Chagai Balochistan in response to India’s threats and atomic tests.
This day recalls the nation’s resolve and commitment to national security and minimum deterrence for self-defense and to keep away the enemies from any provocations or misadventures. An undoubted character who made this dream a reality is a real national hero who has sacrificed a lot to make national defense impregnable known as Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan (Dr. A.Q. Khan). He is colloquially known as the father of ‘Pakistan’s atomic weapons program’.
Conventionally, a collective achievement is attributed to the whole team members who make every bit of contribution but there is always one person in the team who contributes more than his share being selfless. Dr. A. Q. Khan is the central character of this achievement who sacrificed his lucrative life and promising future for the sake of Pakistan when he shifted back in December 1975 to Pakistan with his family to work on the mission of the atomic bomb. In 1976, he founded Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) and served as Chief Scientist for many years and developed the maiden highly enriched uranium (HEU) in 1982. During an interview, Dr. Khan claimed that Pakistan had developed its capacity to test nuclear devices in 1984.
The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, which was once the princely state of British India, was the place of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan’s birth on April 1, 1936. He was a Pashtun Muhajir of Urdu-speaking descent. The Tirah Valley, which is today in the Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was the home of his maternal grandparents, while his paternal lineage dates back to an Uzbek soldier who traveled to India with the 12th-century conqueror Muhammad of Ghor. He was raised by a devout mother, Zulekha, and a schoolteacher father, Abdul Ghafoor, who had previously worked for the Ministry of Education. Dr. A. Q. Khan earned a master’s degree from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, and a Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. In 1972, Dr. Khan went to work at URENCO, which is an international supplier of enrichment services and fuel cycle products for the civil nuclear industry in the Netherlands. After India tested its first atomic bomb in 1974, Dr. Khan was contacted by Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to engage his services for the Pakistani nuclear program.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) acclaim the political credit for launching nuclear program and tests under stern pressure from world powers but the forfeits of real heroes are never disclosed for public information. Dr. A. Q. Khan returned to Pakistan knowing well the setbacks of this mission at national and international levels just to safeguard the motherland from international hostilities and to bring the country up to par with neighboring India in the atomic field.
India launched its nuclear test series “Pokhran-II” in 1998 and in response Pakistan detonated its nuclear devices on May 28, 1998, in Chagai, Balochistan, and declared as world’s 7th nuclear power. Dr. A. Q. Khan emerged as a national hero and earned massive public applause for his unmatched services to Pakistan’s nuclear program.
The aura of Dr. Khan started to fade in March 2001 when he was demoted as chairman of Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) and appointed as a special adviser by then-President Pervez Musharraf, purportedly due to pressure from the United States. Later on, he found himself in the crosshairs of controversy when he was accused of unlawfully proliferating nuclear technology in Iran, Libya, and North Korea. Dr. Khan admitted to managing a proliferation ring and sending technology to Iran between 1989 and 1991, as well as to North Korea and Libya between 1991 and 1997, during his appearance on Pakistan Television (PTV) on February 4, 2004. He was placed under house arrest in Islamabad in 2004 after he admitted publicly to running a proliferation network in the three countries. President General Pervez Musharraf pardoned Dr. A.Q. Khan on February 5, 2004, fearing that his political opponents would politicize the matter.
In 2008, Dr. A. Q. Khan during an interview with AFP said, “I saved the country for the first time when I made Pakistan a nuclear nation and saved it again when I confessed and took the whole blame on myself”. In February 2009, Islamabad High Court overturned his house imprisonment; however, he continued to be closely monitored and required intelligence officials’ presence whenever he left his residence in Islamabad.
While working on the atomic bomb project, Dr. A.Q. Khan co-authored research articles on the chemical reactions of extremely unstable isotope particles in controlled physical systems and pioneered research in thermal quantum field theory and condensed matter physics. He persisted in advocating the employment of contentious technology solutions—including the application of military technologies for civilian welfare—to address issues facing the military and the civilian world.
Dr. A.Q. Khan attempted his hand at politics in July 2012, establishing Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Pakistan (Save Pakistan Movement) as a party in the hopes of garnering support based on his standing in Pakistan. However, after all 111 of his party’s candidates failed to secure a seat in the national assembly, he disbanded it a year later. He routinely penned opinion pieces for Pakistan’s national newspapers and was heard advocating for the importance of scientific education in the country for a more advanced and prosperous future. In 2006, he was found to have prostate cancer; however, he recovered following surgery. His enormous services to Pakistan are recognized by the nation through the numerous schools, universities, institutes, and charitable hospitals bearing his name throughout the country.
Dr. A.Q. Khan was taken to KRL Hospital in Islamabad in August 2021 following a positive COVID-19 test and significant pulmonary complications. At the age of 85, he passed away on October 10, 2021. He was buried in the H-8 graveyard in Islamabad after receiving a state funeral at the Faisal Mosque.
In summing up the illustrious career and profound impact of Dr. A.Q. Khan, it is imperative to distinguish the indelible mark he has left on Pakistan’s scientific and defense landscape. His pioneering efforts in advancing the nation’s nuclear capabilities have not only fortified national security but also instilled a sense of pride and self-reliance within the country. Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Khan’s dedication to education and research has inspired countless young minds to pursue excellence in science and technology. As we pay tribute to this visionary scientist, let us remember his legacy as a testament to the power of determination, innovation, and unwavering patriotism. Dr. A.Q. Khan’s contributions will continue to resonate for generations, ensuring his place in history as one of Pakistan’s most revered figures.