US businessman admits to illegally exports to Pakistani atomic, space agencies

A businessman exported equipment to Pakistani atomic and space agencies, posing a "significant threat" to US national security, according to officials.

Imran Khan, who lives in North Haven in Connecticut state, has admitted in a federal court that he violated US export law controlling export of certain equipment to Pakistan, Deirdre Daly, federal prosecutor for the state, said Friday.

According to court documents, from at least 2012 to December 2016, Khan and unidentified others purchased equipment that were controlled under the Export Administration Regulations and had them shipped to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), or the National Institute of Lasers & Optronics (NILOP).

"The illegal exportation of sensitive technology to prohibited entities such as PAEC, SUPARCO and NILOP, poses a significant threat to our national security," said Leigh-Alistair Barzey, a Special Agent-in-Charge with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The three organisations are among 18 Pakistan-related organisations and individual on the Department of Commerce Entity List.

US companies and individuals are prohibited from providing good or services to those on the list.

In court, Khan admitted he violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and between August 2012 and January 2013, he exported an Alpha Duo Spectrometer to PAEC.

According to court documents, Khan ordered the equipment without telling the suppliers for whom they were.

He had them delivered to his home or business in North Haven and sent them on to Pakistan.

--IANS

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