But this outpouring of support could also be interpreted as the ordinary Pakistani's contempt for America's concerns about nuclear proliferation. There's also the issue of law. As Dr Shireen Mazari, chairperson of the Institute of Strategic Studies, told Outlook, "Which law has Dr A.Q. Khan broken other than the anti-corruption law while making money as a government officer? Has he compromised any international treaty obligations? No. Pakistan has not signed the NPT nor is it a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In fact, many Europeans have broken laws since their own countries are signatories to the NPT and are members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group."
Another reason for support for Khan could be that few here believe that he didn't have the establishment's support for proliferation. As Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for the Pakistan People's Party, told Outlook, "Khan could not have possibly acted alone. It is unfair to single him out and make him a scapegoat. This issue will resurrect time and again in the absence of a bipartisan probe." When the proliferation scandal was made public, Babar says the PPP had demanded a bi-partisan probe in the National Assembly. "We moved an adjournment motion and several resolutions on the issue. But, unfortunately, these were never accepted by the Speaker. We could not debate the matter," he adds.
The overwhelming public sympathy for Khan underlines that no matter what pressure the US brings upon Pakistan, Musharraf can't be handed over to Washington for questioning. This is one U-turn Musharraf can't survive, such is Khan's popularity. Even in protective custody he towers over the other leaders. As the man in the Pakistani street will tell you: "Whatever excesses Dr Khan may have committed, Pakistan should be grateful to all its scientists, including Dr Khan, for making the country a nuclear power. It's because of this capability that we, unlike other Muslim states, cannot be pushed around."
