Abdul Qadeer Khan

Date of Birth: April 1, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: October 10, 2021

Biography

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, commonly known as A.Q. Khan, was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer, noted for his significant contributions to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program. Born in Bhopal, India, Khan migrated to Pakistan in 1952. He earned his doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. Upon his return to Pakistan in the mid-1970s, Khan played a pivotal role in establishing the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), which was instrumental in Pakistan’s successful detonation of nuclear devices in 1998, making Pakistan the first Muslim-majority country to possess nuclear weapons. Known for his controversial role in nuclear proliferation, Khan’s legacy remains a complex mix of national heroism and international scrutiny.

5 Interesting Facts about Abdul Qadeer Khan

1. Abdul Qadeer Khan is often referred to as the “father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb.”

2. He was awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, twice (in 1996 and 1999).

3. Khan was implicated in a global nuclear proliferation network, allegedly selling nuclear secrets to countries like Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

4. He was placed under house arrest in 2004 after confessing to his role in nuclear proliferation, although he later retracted his confession.

5. Despite controversies, Khan is celebrated in Pakistan for his role in making the country a nuclear-armed state, which is seen as a deterrent against regional adversaries.