Posted on 10/10/21
| News Source: Times of Israel
Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered at home as the “father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb” and accused of illegally sharing nuclear technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea, has died at 85, it was announced Sunday.
The Pakistani atomic scientist was hailed as a national hero for transforming his country into the world’s first Islamic nuclear power, but regarded by the West as a dangerous renegade responsible for smuggling technology to rogue states, including Iran.
Khan had been hospitalized with COVID-19. He died after being transferred to the KRL Hospital in Islamabad with lung problems, state-run broadcaster PTV reported.
Khan had been admitted to the same hospital in August with COVID-19, it said. After being permitted to return home several weeks ago, he was transferred back after his condition deteriorated.
Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi said in a tweet he was “deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan,” whom he had known personally since 1982.