Renowned scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, known as the “father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb”, died at 85, after being hospitalised with COVID-19, authorities announced on Sunday.
The atomic scientist was praised and celebrated as a national hero for transforming his country into the world’s first Islamic nuclear power, although known by the West as a dangerous rebel responsible for smuggling technology to rogue states.
Khan had been admitted to KRL hospital in August with COVID-19, After being permitted to return home several weeks ago, he was transferred back after his condition deteriorated. He died after being transferred to the KRL Hospital in Islamabad with lung problems, state-run broadcaster PTV reported.
Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi wrote in a tweet he was “deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan”, he knew him personally since 1982. “He helped us develop nation-saving nuclear deterrence and a grateful nation will never forget his services.”
Khan was admired for bringing the nation up to par with arch-rival India in the atomic field and making its defences “impregnable”.
Although, he was in the international crosshairs when he was alledgedly sharing nuclear technology with Iran, Libya, and North Korea illegally.
He was placed under house arrest in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad in 2004 after he accepted running a proliferation network to the three countries.
Khan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006, but recovered after surgery.
A court had ended his house arrest in February 2009, but Khan’s actions were strictly guarded. He was accompanied by authorities each time he left his home in an upscale sector of leafy Islamabad.