ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Pakistani cabinet Thursday asked President Pervez Musharraf to pardon the country's top nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer khan, who has accepted full responsibility for leaking nuclear secrets abroad.

    The cabinet, in a special meeting presided by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, reviewed the mercy petition filed by Dr. Qadeer Khan to the National Command Authority (NCA) on Wednesday, and decided to forward its recommendations to the President to pardon the scientist, said an official statement issued here.

    The NCA, which met Wednesday evening, decided to forward the clemency appeal to the cabinet for its consideration in a special meeting, attended by President Musharraf, Prime Minister Jamali and other senior civil and military officials.

    Qadeer Khan called on President Musharraf Wednesday afternoon and submitted his mercy petition, asking for forgiveness.

    Musharraf was to meet Prime Minister Jamali later Thursday on the recommendation and make a final decision on Khan. Enditem