Peter Finke
Peter Finke (born 1944) is a German theoretical
physicist who participated in Project-706, Pakistan's Peter Finke
clandestine nuclear research project. A close associate Born 1944
and friend of the famous Pakistani nuclear engineer Bonn, Germany
Munir Ahmad Khan (late), he is citizen of both Nationality German
Pakistan and Germany. He is one of the European Citizenship Germany and Pakistan
scientists who participated in Project-706 in the
Alma mater Max Planck Institute for Plasma
1970s.[1]
Physics, Germany
Finke is, perhaps, better known in much of the world Known for The Project-706
for his involvement in the development of Beryllium Nuclear structure experiment
reflector technology as well as selling this technology his work on the Quantum
to Pakistan in the late 1980s. In 1989, Finke was mechanics, Askaryan effect and
arrested in Germany by the Interpol Police because of Spectroscopy
his involvement in nuclear proliferation. However, Awards Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1989)
Germany dropped the allegations due to lack of
Scientific career
evidence. Finke was sentenced to jail by the German
Fields Theoretical Physics
court in 1989 because of violation of Germany's export
control laws.[1] Institutions Pakistan Institute of Nuclear
Science and Technology
(PINSTECH)
Biography Physikalisch-Technische
Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Doctoral Dr. Heinrich Weichselgartner
Nuclear Proliferation advisor
During the 1970s, Finke was working as a director at Notes
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt where he A close friend of Pakistani nuclear scientist and
carried out research in the field of particle physics and engineer Munir Ahmad Khan (late)
was also serving as director of the atomic clock[2]
project. According to the Congressional investigation report of 1989, Finke smuggled sensitive nuclear
detectors and nuclear technology to Pakistan in the late 1980s without notifying the German
Government.[3] The report also says that he also smuggled beryllium nuclear reflectors and sensitive
research publications to Pakistan in 1972.[4]
Project-706
Finke, who was contacted by nuclear physicist turned-diplomat Siddique Ahmad Butt, better known as S.
A. Butt, also passed on sensitive research publications to Butt.[4] Finke first visited Pakistan when a
German nuclear firm signed a civilian nuclear technology agreement with PAEC.[4] However, later, Finke
moved to Pakistan in 1975 to train Pakistani scientists in the field of nuclear reactor technology under the
mutual agreement.[1][4] When the German nuclear fuel supplier firm terminated the contract due to
Finke's involvement in Project-706; Finke decided to live in Pakistan where he trained a number of
Pakistani scientists in the field of nuclear reactor-device technology[1][4]
PINSTECH career
Finke moved to Pakistan in 1980 where he joined Project-706 under the leadership of Munir Ahmad
Khan and Abdul Qadeer Khan. Finke, eventually, worked at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and
Technology (PINSTECH) as a researcher and produced a number of research publications along with his
fellow Pakistani nuclear scientists.[4] However, Finke was carefully excluded from Pakistan's nuclear
weapons development program and was tasked to provide research publications.[4] At PINSTECH, Peter
Finke was involved in nuclear reactor technology where he researched and provided personal assistance
to Pakistani scientists in nuclear reactor technology. According to his personal account, the Congressional
report has stated that "There is no doubt that Munir Ahmed Khan, chief of the Pakistan Nuclear Authority,
with whom Finke already had a cup of tea, has secretly developed his country into a nuclear power; the
bomb puzzle is complete. He had many individual parts – ranging from transformer sheets to uranium
conversion —supplied by small West German firms, using a network of agents to this end.[4]
Finke was instrumental in the development of Tritium reflector technology for Pakistan's nuclear
weapons. Finke produced research publications on Beryllium, Tritium and Thorium reflectors which were
passed on to the Pakistani nuclear scientists to develop nuclear weapons. Because of his services, Finke
was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the then President of Pakistan General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Finke
continued to carry out research in Pakistan's nuclear program till 1989. Later, he was transferred to
PINSTECH's Nuclear Physics Division (NPD) where he became a distinguished professor of particle
physics. Later, he became a full professor of high energy physics. He obtained Pakistani citizenship in
1985.
Arrest and sentence to jail
In 1989, Finke was arrested through a joint operation of German Police and Interpol in Germany. Finke,
who was in Germany for a personal vacation, was arrested by the German Police and jailed for violating
the German export control laws. The following year, Finke was charged with nuclear proliferation where
he confessed his involvement in the Pakistani nuclear program.
The German court found him guilty and he served a jail term in a German Prison.[1][5] Finke's personal
information and details have been kept secret by the Governments of Pakistan and Germany. Both
Pakistan and Germany refused to provide more details regarding the scientist. The trial went fast and
most of the information regarding the case was not released by Pakistan and Germany to the international
press. After serving his jail term, Finke has been monitored closely by intelligence agencies and was
reported to have moved back to Pakistan with his family where he became a foreign professor of particle
physics at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
References
1. "Roots of Pakistan Atomic Scandal Traced to Europe" (http://www.nuclearactive.org/docs/LE
S021904a.html).
2. See Document 2964 (http://cns.miis.edu/reports/pdfs/9707paki.pdf)
3. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100407200248/http://cns.miis.edu/reports/p
dfs/9707paki.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://cns.miis.edu/reports/pdfs/9707pak
i.pdf) (PDF) on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
4. "NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROLIFERATION (Senate - May 16, 1989)" (https://web.archive.
org/web/20100830214026/http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1989/890516-cr.htm).
Archived from the original (https://fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1989/890516-cr.htm) on 30
August 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
5. Smith, Craig S. (19 February 2004). "Roots of Pakistan Atomic Scandal Traced to Europe"
(https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/world/roots-of-pakistan-atomic-scandal-traced-to-euro
pe.html). The New York Times.
External links
Congressional Report of 1989 See Nuclear Exports to Pakistan Reported (https://fas.org/sp
p/starwars/congress/1989/890516-cr.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201008302
14026/http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1989/890516-cr.htm) 30 August 2010 at the
Wayback Machine
http://www.nuclearactive.org/docs/LES021904a.html
See Document No.2964 (http://cns.miis.edu/reports/pdfs/9707paki.pdf)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Finke&oldid=1218718698"
