Renowned nuclear scientist and national icon Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan was laid to rest in Islamabad on Sunday.
His funeral prayers, led by Prof Dr Ahmed Al Ghazali, were held at the Faisal Mosque at 3:30pm.
A large number of people were in attendance during the funeral prayers, despite rain which began to pour shortly after 3pm.
Among those who attended the funeral were cabinet members, parliamentarians and the military leadership.
Two separate enclosures were arranged within the mosque premises, of which one expressly catered to the general public.
Khan, 85, passed away early Sunday morning after his health deteriorated.
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Funeral prayers for Pakistan’s renowned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan were held at Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque on Sunday.
A large number of people were in attendance, despite rain which began to pour shortly before the prayers, at 3:30pm.
Two separate enclosures were arranged within the mosque premises, of which one expressly catered to the general public.
Khan, 85, passed away early Sunday morning after his health deteriorated.
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Pakistan’s renowned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, 85, passed away Sunday after his health deteriorated.
Dr AQ Khan is considered the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and is revered at home as a hero for building the Muslim world’s first atomic bomb.
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s health started deteriorating Saturday night, after which he was brought to the KRL hospital Sunday morning in an ambulance, at 6:00am.
Sources said the nuclear scientist experienced discomfort in breathing after which he was brought to the hospital. However, his health took a turn for the worse when his lungs started bleeding.
Doctors tried their best to save the renowned scientist’s life but were unable to do so, resulting in his death at 7:04am. Doctors have said Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan passed away as his lungs collapsed.
The hospital administration is trying to make arrangements to shift Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s body to his E-7 residence. His funeral prayers will be offered at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad at 3:30pm, said his family.
Speaking to Geo News, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed showered praise on the scientist, adding that all necessary arrangements were made to save Dr Qadeer’s life.
Rasheed confirmed that the government will accord a state funeral to the scientist in recognition of his services for Pakistan.
The interior minister said Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had helped him a lot in educational activities, adding that he had remained a visionary leader in times when Pakistan was going through a sensitive time.
“He is indeed the Mohsin-e-Pakistan,” said Rasheed.
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan became a national hero overnight, not only in Pakistan but in the Islamic world as well, when in May 1998 Pakistan gave a befitting response to India by conducting its nuclear tests.
Following the tests, Pakistan became the sole nuclear power in the Muslim world and the seventh country to possess nuclear weapons. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons have kept Indian aggression in check.
