The Nation - News from Dec. 18, 1987

A Pakistani-born Canadian was convicted of conspiring to export to Pakistan two restricted metals used in nuclear weapons but was acquitted of bribing a U.S. Customs agent for an export license. Arshad Z. Pervez, 48, faces a maximum prison term of 25 years, less than half the maximum he faced on conviction of the three bribery counts. U.S. District Judge James Giles in Philadelphia set sentencing for Feb. 10. Pervez was convicted of conspiracy to file false documents to get an export license to ship maraging 350 steel to Pakistan, for filing three false documents and for attempting to export beryllium. Maraging 350 steel is a strategic steel alloy needed to produce weapons-grade uranium. Beryllium is a metal used to boost the intensity of nuclear explosions.