Khan, widely described as the architect of the nuclear weapons programme in Pakistan, which tested its first atomic bomb in 1998 to rival that of neighbouring India, was sacked from his official position after his confession, but granted clemency by then President Pervez Musharraf. “I had been kept as a prisoner having no free movement or meeting with anybody,” Khan said in a handwritten note submitted to the Supreme Court on Thursday. Global nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency had said Khan was an important part of the nuclear black market and had help from people in many different countries. The SPD is headed by the Pakistani military and responsible for handling the country's secretive nuclear weapons programme. Khan also said in his note to the Supreme Court that he was being forced to withdraw his petition to that court and take it to a lower court.

Source: bd News24 May 15, 2020 17:15 UTC