Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, has passed away, local media reported on Sunday. He was 85.
Khan was brought to the hospital on Saturday night after his health started deteriorating, Geo News reported. Later, he passed away at 7:04 in the morning. Doctors have said Dr. Khan died due to lung collapse.
Pakistani Defence Minister Parvez Khattak and other federal ministers expressed grief over the passing away of the scientist.
“Deeply grieved at the sad demise of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Great loss! Pakistan will forever honour his services to the nation! The nation is heavily indebted to him for his contributions in enhancing our defence capabilities,” Khattak tweeted in Urdu.
Abdul Qadeer Khan is considered the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, meant to deter potential aggression from India. In 2004, he stated that he also helped supply materials necessary for making nuclear weapons to both Libya and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Source: News Agencies
