Pakistan's nuclear father not contesting vote: party
Source: Agence France-Presse
The father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb has decided not to contest general elections in May, but will support his party and its allies on the campaign trail, a party spokesman said Friday.
Many Pakistanis regard Abdul Qadeer Khan, 76, as a hero for building the Muslim world's first atomic bomb but in the West he is considered a dangerous renegade since admitting in 2004 to selling nuclear secrets on the black market.
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Khan last November registered his Tehreek-e-Tahafuzz Pakistan or Save Pakistan Movement (SPM) to contest general elections for the first time and was allotted the symbol of a missile on request.
"Doctor Abdul Qadeer Khan will not take part in the election, but he will continue to befittingly support his party and its allies," party spokesman Rohail Akbar said in a statement.
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The party is campaigning on a ticket to end corruption, inflation and power cuts, but is not expected to win many votes.
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Read more: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130329/pakistans-nuclear-father-not-contesting-vote-party#13