London: Former Prime Minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has stated that his party was responsible for making Pakistan a nuclear power and collaborating with China on the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet. The ruling party has recently intensified its claims over the nuclear program, seemingly minimizing the contributions of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, widely regarded as the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb.
In an interview, PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah responded to criticism over Dr. Khan’s absence from Youm-e-Takbeer celebrations by stating that while the scientist is respected, he should not be considered a “national hero.” Sanaullah credited Nawaz Sharif for the decisive 1998 nuclear tests, calling it the pivotal moment in Pakistan’s nuclear journey. He also acknowledged Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for initiating the program but emphasized Sharif’s leadership as the turning point.