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Pakistani nuclear scientist arrested
Guardian/UK ^ | 10/24/01 | Staff and agencies

Posted on 10/24/2001 5:55:34 PM PDT by kattracks

The former head of Pakistan's nuclear research programme, who is also an outspoken supporter of Islamic radicals, has been arrested in Pakistan and placed in "protective custody", the government said today.

Sultan Bashiru-Din Mehmood was arrested yesterday by Pakistani intelligence officials in the eastern city of Lahore.

"We don't know on what charges," his son Asim Mehmood said.

Relatives said that he had been working recently on projects in Afghanistan, including land development, educational reform and food programmes.

The authorities would not say why Mr Mehmood, who was project director of Pakistan's nuclear program prior to his retirement last year, was arrested.

He was a known supporter of Afghanistan's Taliban regime and had links to other hardline Islamic groups in Pakistan.

Mehmood addressed a gathering of intellectuals last week, calling for a halt to the US bombing and negotiations with the Taliban.

He was detained with another scientist from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Abdul Majid.

Pakistan is, like its neighbour and arch rival India, a nuclear power armed with atomic weapons.

Islamic militants have held mass demonstrations in Pakistan since October 7, in protest at the US bombardment of Afghanistan and the Pakistani government's decision to provide logistical support to US forces, open its air space to the bombers and share intelligence information.



TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 10/24/2001 5:55:34 PM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
The former head of Pakistan's nuclear research programme, who is also an outspoken supporter of Islamic radicals

This sure gives me a warm and fuzzy! Sure hope ours work!

2 posted on 10/24/2001 5:59:08 PM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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To: kattracks
Hope they got him in time! Criminy!
3 posted on 10/24/2001 5:59:34 PM PDT by Bigg Red
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To: kattracks
The authorities would not say why Mr Mehmood, who was project director of Pakistan's nuclear program prior to his retirement last year, was arrested.

Well, good. I hope they never say and that he never sees the light of day again.

Pakistan is sending a signal. Let's hope it's heeded.

4 posted on 10/24/2001 6:00:12 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Nuclear Paki-bump
5 posted on 10/24/2001 6:01:01 PM PDT by Sabertooth
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: kattracks
Save his brain in a jar for research
7 posted on 10/24/2001 6:06:40 PM PDT by spycatcher
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To: kattracks
Relatives said that he had been working recently on projects in Afghanistan, including land development, educational reform and food programmes.

WHAT? No baby formula project? This is an outrage.

MM

8 posted on 10/24/2001 6:08:42 PM PDT by MississippiMan
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To: MississippiMan
No, he was working in an Aspirin Factory!
9 posted on 10/24/2001 6:13:09 PM PDT by PokeyJoe
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To: kattracks
Herein lies the nut of our problem with militant Islamic states if this problem is to be resolved for more than a handful of years. We must identify and neutralize the scientists who have a sophisticated knowledge of either nuclear, chemical or bio weapons design and manufacturing processes.

We probably have a pretty fair list of the individuals in Iraq because of almost 3 years of weapons monitoring but to indentify these individuals in Pakistan or Iran without the cooperation of their respective governments may be difficult.

10 posted on 10/24/2001 6:13:49 PM PDT by Amerigomag
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To: kattracks
The former head of Pakistan's nuclear research programme, who is also an outspoken supporter of Islamic radicals, has been arrested in Pakistan and placed in "protective custody", the government said today.
He was detained with another scientist from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

Sounds like they need them for insurance purposes. It depends on what the definition of the word "arrest" is.
It sounds more like "we're keeping them handy, just in case."

11 posted on 10/24/2001 6:15:46 PM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: PokeyJoe
You gotta love the intellect: a top nuclear scientist, and the best they could come up with were tired cliches about land and food and just all-around humanitarian work he was doing over there, darn it. LOL.

MM

12 posted on 10/24/2001 6:25:24 PM PDT by MississippiMan
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To: kattracks
Relatives said that he had been working recently on projects in Afghanistan, including land development, educational reform and food programmes. Riiiight.
13 posted on 10/24/2001 6:26:59 PM PDT by bond7
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To: kattracks
Relatives said that he had been working recently on projects in Afghanistan, including land development, educational reform and food programmes.

...

He was a bigtime nuclear scientist... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what he was probably doing there

14 posted on 10/24/2001 6:30:02 PM PDT by xm177e2
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To: kattracks
had links to other hardline Islamic groups in Pakistan.

Well...isn't that just DUCKY!

15 posted on 10/24/2001 6:32:27 PM PDT by SolitaryMan
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To: kattracks
So Pakistan's head nuclear researcher is a radical raghead kook. Gee, I wonder if those terrorists could ever get a nuke. I just wonder.
16 posted on 10/24/2001 6:32:39 PM PDT by San Jacinto
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To: kattracks
Holy shiite, Batman!
17 posted on 10/24/2001 6:33:56 PM PDT by 6ppc
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To: kattracks
Now we're closing in on worst case scenarios. IMO it is likely that Iraq got access to Pakistani nuclear weapons data and designs courtesy of this guy.

At which point the only question is how much weapons-grade fissionable material Iraq has. xSoviet stuff doesn't count due to its higher manufacturing impurities causing it to decay into ineffective fizzles at this point. I read someplace that Iraq had almost enough to make a bomb when the Gulf War started.

Our port security and conquering what's left of Iraq just shot to #1 on my priority list. Ahead of finishing off Osama bin Laden.

18 posted on 10/24/2001 6:37:58 PM PDT by Thud
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To: San Jacinto
Gee, I wonder if those terrorists could ever get a nuke.

Well, this guy did build a nuke for Pakistan. If the core material is available...

19 posted on 10/24/2001 6:38:37 PM PDT by 6ppc
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To: San Jacinto
I thought ignorance and poverty are what drove Islamic hatred of the west. At least that's what the "mainstream moderate" muslims are telling us. This guy is probably a Berkeley grad.
20 posted on 10/24/2001 6:39:46 PM PDT by Zorobabel
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