Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan denies `detention, or `custody` of N-scientists

IRNA

Islamabad, Dec 12, IRNA - Pakistan Thursday dismissed a report 
that a number of Pakistani scientists have been detained or taken 
into custody. 
"They have not been detained or taken into custody," said 
a Foreign Office spokesman quoted by the state APP news agency on 
Thursday. 
Pakistani media reported on Wednesday that a scientist at the 
level of a director has been detained for alleged cooperation with 
another country in the nuclear field. 
According to the spokesman, there are routine periodic 
debriefing sessions conducted by all the nuclear weapon states 
from time to time. 
"The dependability and debrief program will be concluded 
soon," he added. 
He also denied reports over involvement of foreigners in the 
process. "No foreigner has been associated with these debriefing 
sessions. It is purely an internal matter." 
The issue is being unnecessarily sensationalized, he said, "It 
should not be politicized or blown out of proportion." 
TSH/213 
End