My dear Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with the deepest sense of sorrow, anguish and regret that I have chosen to appear before you in order toatone for some of the anguish and pain that has been suffered by the people of Pakistan on account of theextremely unfortunate events of the last two months.

I am aware of the vital criticality of Pakistan's nuclear programme to our national security and the nationalpride and emotions which it generates in your hearts. I am also conscious that any untoward event, incident orthreat to this national capability draws the greatest concern in the nation's psyche.

It is in this context that the recent international events and their fallout on Pakistan have traumatized thenation. I have much to answer for it.

The recent investigation was ordered by the government of Pakistan, consequent to the disturbing disclosuresand evidence by some countries to international agencies, relating to alleged proliferation activities bycertain Pakistanis and foreigners over the last two decades.

The investigation has established that many of the reported activities did occur, and that these wereinvariably initiated at my behest. In my interviews with the concerned government officials, I was confrontedwith the evidence and the findings, and I have voluntarily admitted that much of it is true and accurate.

My dear brothers and sisters, I have chosen to appear before you to offer my deepest regrets and unqualifiedapologies to a traumatized nation. I am aware of the high esteem, love and affection in which you have held mefor my services to national security, and I am grateful for all the awards and honours that have been bestowedupon me.

However, it pains me to realise in retrospect that my entire lifetime achievement of providing foolproofnational security to my nation could have been placed in serious jeopardy on account of my activities whichwere based in good faith but on errors of judgment related to unauthorised proliferation activities.

I wish to place on record that those of my subordinates who have accepted their role in the affair were actingin good faith, like me, on my instructions. I also wish to clarify that there was never ever any kind ofauthorization for these activities by a government official.

I take full responsibility for my actions and seek your pardon. I give an assurance, my dear brothers andsisters, that such activities will never take place in the future.

I also appeal to all citizens of Pakistan, in the supreme national interest, to refrain from any furtherspeculations and not to politicise this extremely sensitive issue of national security.

May Allah keep Pakistan safe and secure.