Speaking at the close of a security conference here, Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said that the scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, had been punished in the past and had to be treated in a "balanced" way.
"He is a national hero, because in the eyes of all Pakistanis he has brought about strategic balance in South Asia," said Kasuri, adding that the problem had occurred when Pakistan's nuclear programme was in its early, covert stages.
Kasuri said President Musharraf had removed Dr Qadeer from his post about three years ago over the issue.
"Why this unhealthy focus on Pakistan, why not others? We are talking about various actors," Kasuri said, and asked where Iran had found its laser technology to enrich uranium, or how it knew how to enrich plutonium.
Kasuri said that Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had supplied Islamabad with a list of names of other people involved in supplying such technology to other states.
"I know the names, I don't wish to spell them out ... there are lots of Europeans involved and there are other countries involved," Kasuri said in a vehement defence of his country's actions.
Kasuri was speaking at the end of the 40th annual security conference in Munich, southern Germany, where some 250 defence luminaries from 30 countries had gathered for debate on transatlantic ties, Nato and the Middle East.
Earlier, addressing the Conference, Kasuri said Pakistan would continue to play its role for nuclear non-proliferation. Pakistan would firmly follow its commitment to maintain the global peace and harmony, he added.
The minister said Pakistan is engaged in a comprehensive war against terrorism. Pakistan's actions are consistent with our moral principles, national interest and our vision of Pakistan as a modern, tolerant and democratic Islamic State, Kasuri added.
The Foreign Minister said we have deployed 70,000 troops along the Pak-Afghan border to locate and interdict terrorist suspects. He said Pakistan has developed an effective intelligence network based on human intelligence, technological capabilities and aerial surveillance backed by an effective Quick Reaction Force.
Because of our actions, over 500 al-Qaeda operatives and associates, including some key figures, were arrested during the last two years, the foreign minister said.
He said the interlocking regions of the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia will greatly benefit from a stable strategic and security environment.
Kasuri said this will open new opportunities for economic and social development and would enable Pakistan to play its geo-political role as a bridge of economic co-operation and mutual prosperity between three regions which contain about one-third of the world population, with South Asia alone accounting for approximately one quarter.
He said, "We firmly believe that a wide range of measures involving both the Muslim governments and the western world are needed to eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism and extremism."
Kasuri said, "We will shortly commence a composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India to resolve all outstanding, issues, especially the Kashmir dispute."
The Foreign Minister said close-relations with the Middle East have been a central plank of our foreign policy. Even before Pakistan's independence, the leadership of freedom movement expressed its solidarity with the people of Palestine and called for the protection of their rights.
Kasuri said United States and Europe have a responsibility to use their full political weight to realise the vision of two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace within secure and recognised boundaries.
The Foreign Minister said international efforts must be guided by the objectives of restoring Iraq's sovereignty and political independence, and ensuring its unity and territorial integrity as well as upholding the rights of the Iraqis to determine their own future and control their own natural resources.
Adherence to the principles of the United Nations' Charter is the only assurance for a better, safer and prosperous.