Crying over spilt milk
After the deluge over selling Pakistan's nuclear
secrets to Iran
By Ali Ashraf Khan
February 5, 2004
iranian.com
ISLAMABAD -- The nation is shocked at whatever is
appearing in the press and
electronic media about the scientists involved in the nuclear
proliferation and having provided secrets thereof to North Korea,
Iran
and Libya. People in every strata of society, even the retired
Generals
are expressing their opinion about the nuclear leak in Pakistan.
To say
the least this is the most unfortunate and un-called for situation
and
there is only one question, which needs an answer from the nation
and
the rulers.
Are we that set of irresponsible people? The reports
in the
press are still incomplete, the nation has only one side of the
story,
the report is that Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and his other associates
have
admitted their guilt, we have yet to hear the other side of the
story
and a confused nation would like the President to allow the facilities
to the accused scientists to relate their side of the story as
well.
The media is full of reports about the wealth collected
by Dr. Abdul
Qadeer Khan, while in employment of Pakistan government. Surely
he did
not collect all this wealth in a day, it must have taken him months
and
years to be that rich, where were the government and the media,
while
Dr. Qadeer Khan and his associates were actively involved in corrupt
practices.
It was in public knowledge then and now as well the
numbers
of bungalows, plaza's and business interests that Dr. Qadeer
Khan has,
why all this hulla ballo after the deluge. Are the rulers not aware
of
the causes of corruption? It is unfortunate that in this case the
corruption has been at the highest level, where the national security
and interest are at stake.
The investigators in this case should
also
come out with facts about the point of time when our scientists
dished
out nuclear secrets, this will fix responsibility on the rulers
who were
said to be closely guarding and monitoring the project.
We still
remember the advertisements in national press about nuclear
technology. These advertisements were issued on behalf of the Government
of
Pakistan,
it is reported that there was a website launched for
the same,
was it not according to the prescribed policy of the government,
which
safeguards national interest, or the scientists were doing
all this on
their own. Then why action was not taken by the government?
It is a
matter of shame that the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) has
to write to us about the state of affairs in our nuclear programme.
So far as corruption is concerned, the government
should appoint a
national commission to go into the causes of corruption and suggest
remedies for the same. Surely the corrupt individual is not one
time
corrupt, his whole life is full of corrupt practices, he collects
money
and makes investments to multiply his wealth, it is therefore suggested
that all financial transactions of government servants should be
reported and a record maintained to be used at the time of need.
The
theory of a built in system of checks and balance in the armed
forces
accounts and administration are only a myth, their transactions
should
also be reported to the government for an independent audit. The
Kahutta
projects and its workers are considered to be holy cows and therefore
above any criticism or questioning, this must stop forthwith, their
affairs should be brought under the purview of transparent audit
to
differentiate between the black and the white. Let us borrow a
leaf from
India's book, their nuclear command is under a civil authority,
this
should be so in Pakistan as well if we want to have a real democratic
government in any form whatsoever.
To say the least Pakistan is the target with the
most sensitive issue of
nuclear technology as the main issue, or the greed of a few adventurers
have landed the nation and the country in danger by playing for
the
under world Mafia. The system of Jihad in Islam makes non-Muslims
shudder
with an Islamic country having a nuclear bomb and they are trying
to
divest Pakistan of it, the nation will resist it at all cost.
So far as
the role of our scientists and security personals are concerned,
the
nuclear command authority must not forget that they are Pakistani
first
and Pakistani last and they will not let the country and the
nation down. It is hoped that the nation has learnt to resist
outside pressure
and guard our sovereignty jealously.
There has not been derth of scientists in Pakistan;
Dr. Abdus Salam is
buried here, Dr. I. H. Usmani is also no more on the scene and
there is
no news about Dr. Munir Ahmad Khan. It is a pity that Pakistan
could not
take useful service from the KANNUP, which is a product of Dr.
I. H.
Usmani in sixties. KANNUP is also not in full operation since
1972 onward when Canadians backed out of their deal and Pakistan
was
trapped
into nuclear defence phobia the result of which we have before
us now.
It is a pity that Pakistan has not been able to develop
nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Let us do it seriously
now
for the
well being of medical, laser and space technology development.
The time
is not yet lost. Pakistan should set their own priorities transparently
and act accordingly.
We must shed our habit of crying over spilt milk.
I have had the occasion of meeting a China man, who told me that
they follow every
thing which is written in the Quran. State provides food, shelter,
medicine and education and even then if any one steals, he is a
diseased
member of the society and he is eliminated, punishment for corruption
and rape is death in China without any rigma'role of judicial
process in
which the culprit mostly gets the benefit of doubt and the long
robed
lawyers collect their fat fees.
I hung my head in shame when my
Chinese
friend told me that in his daily inter-action with normal Pakistanis
every one tells about the other that he is a number two person,
and he
is yet not been able to differentiate between number one and
number two.
Surely he could make it that number two person is dishonest and
corrupt
and would stoop to do anything. Let us get rid of this fallacy.
In Turkey there is no medallion for valour as we
have Nishan-e-Haider in
Pakistan and Pram Veer Chakar in India and Victoria Cross in
Britain. To
be in the armed forces in Turkey is an honour for the individual
and is
considered as such and let us now compare the perks given to
defence personals in Pakistan with these decoration and otherwise
in the
shape
of urban and rural properties. Can our nation afford to do it?
It is a
pity that we have not been able to inculcate the same feelings
of
patriotism in our nation. It will never be late for ever, I
will appeal to
every individual to weld himself into a nation of steel and
stop dancing
to the tune of super power to retain power and thereby what
is left for
us, the nation has already lost enough and can not afford any
more.
* Send
this page to your friends
|