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04 June 2011

Story of AQ Khan 06 of 07

Honors and recognitions

Because of Abdul Qadeer Khan's open public promotion by the Pakistan media, Khan remained one of the most known, yet respected, scientist in the country. His active role, during the last two decades, in the nuclear development; Abdul Qadeer Khan came to known, both nationally and internationally as the country's top nuclear physicist, in spite of his academic (metallurgical) engineering discipline. Abdul Qadeer Khan has received more than 60 Gold medal across the countries universities and colleges. On 14th August of 1989, Abdul Qadeer Khan, along with his counterpart Munir Ahmad Khan, was honored by the Government of Pakistan after he was awarded the second high civil award, "Hilal-e-Imtiaz" by the former Prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a public ceremony. In 14th August of 1996, Abdul Qadeer Khan was awarded the highest civilian award "Nishan-e-Imtiaz" by former Prime minister Nawaz Sharif. On 12th March 1999, Abdul Qadeer Khan was again awarded and honored the highest civilian award "Nishan-e-Imtiaz" from President Justice (retired) Rafique Tarar. With receiving the Nishane-e-Imtiaz for the second time, Abdul Qadeer Khan remains the only Pakistani citizen who has been twice honored and awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, to date.


Story of AQ Khan 07 of 07

Honorary degrees

Khan has been conferred with various of honorary Doctorate of Sciences (D.Sc.) from all over the universities in Pakistan. A list of universities are listed below that have conferred Abdul Qadeer Khan with honorary doctorate degree:
  • University of Karachi
  • Baqai Medical University
  • Hamdard University
  • Gomal University
  • Lahore University of Engineering and Technology
  • Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology
Even after his confession, Abdul Qadeer Khan remains widely popular among Pakistani civil society and he is considered domestically to be one of its most-influential and respected scientists. In an interview with Pakistani political analyst Hamid Mir, Dr. Salim Farookhi described Khan as, "the most influential and talented scientist that Pakistan has produced."

Story of AQ Khan 04 of 07

1998 tests
The competition between KRL and PAEC became highly intensified when India tested its nuclear bombs, codename Pokhran-II, in 1998 in Pokhran region. These nuclear tests conducted by India caused great alarm and internal tension in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif, prime minister at that time, came under intense media and public pressure to conduct its own nuclear tests. After the Indian nuclear weapons tests, Abdul Qadeer Khan repeatedly met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, trying for permission to test Pakistan's nuclear weapons in Chagai. He proposed that the tests could by carried out in the underground tunnels in Kahuta. Despite his efforts, Sharif instead chose PAEC, under Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, due to their experience of ingeniously carrying out the tests in the past.

In meantime, Sharif sought to mitigate the intense rivalry between PAEC and KRL by asking Khan to provide its enriched uranium to PAEC. Nawaz Sharif also urged both KRL and PAEC to work together in the nation's best interest. It was the KRL's HEU that ultimately led to the successful detonation of Pakistan's first nuclear device on 28 May 1998. Two days later, on 30 May, a small team of scientists belonging to PAEC, under the leadership of Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, tested a Plutonium-based nuclear device. According to Pakistan defense analyst and retired engineer officer Lieutenant-General Talat Masood, the weapon-grade device was much more powerful than the uranium device. The theoretical test yield of the device was reported to 12-20 Kt. But recently in an interview with Dr. Shahid Masood of A.R.Y. Television Network, Abdul Qadeer Khan said that the even the second nuclear test was also based on Uranium-fissile fuel, though he did not provide any evidence to his claim. The tests were greeted with jubilation; in Pakistan, Abdul Qadeer Khan was feted as a national hero. The United States immediately imposed sanctions on both India and Pakistan and publicly blamed China for assisting Pakistan.

Story of AQ Khan 05 of 07

Health matters

Cancer

On 22 August 2006, the Pakistani government announced that Khan was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. On 9 September 2006, Khan had surgery at Aga Khan hospital, in Karachi. According to doctors, the operation was successful, but on 30 October it was reported that his condition had deteriorated and he was suffering from deep vein thrombosis.

Hospitalization

On 5 March 2008, Khan was admitted to an Islamabad hospital with low blood pressure and fever, reportedly due to an infection. He was released four days later.