A.Q. Khan, nuclear jihadist, makes a comeback

FP contributor John McCreary relays some disturbing news from Pakistan. With President Pervez Musharraf under growing pressure from "several hundred retired generals, admirals and servicemen," his party is talking about letting "nuclear jihadist" A.Q. Khan off the hook:

In civilian politics, a leader of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q Party said that if it wins the Parliamentary elections on 18 February, it will not only release nuclear physicist Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest but will restore "his status," presumably including the right to vote and move freely in Pakistan and his passport.

India's The Hindu newspaper reports that Musharraf has already"partially lifted restrictions" on Khan, perhaps in a bid to appeal to nationalist sentiments in the military. The Pakistani president might be feeling the heat not only from retired service members (whom he dismissed earlier as "insignificant personalities"),but among current military leaders. As one retired general told the New York Times, "If you are getting all of this from people who have been in uniform, it is likely that those still in uniform feel the same way."