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Pakistan slaps media restrictions on detained nuclear scientist

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 8, IRNA
Pakistan-Nuclear scientist
Pakistani government has imposed restrictions on the country's detained nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan after he disclosed he had taken responsibility of transferring nuclear technology only to save the country, local TV channels reported Tuesday.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister hinted yesterday to lift restrictions on Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has been under detention since January 2004.

Khan was put under house arrest after he was produced on the state-run television to say that he exported nuclear technology outside Pakistan.

But Khan in recent interviews came with different statements that he had taken responsibility of nuclear transfer only to save Pakistan.

Khan told Pakistan's Urdu newspaper 'Nawa-i-Waqt' that he is under "illegal detention" and hoped that the country's new government will soon lift restrictions on his movement.

Pakistan's new Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he wants restrictions on Dr Khan are lifted.

"I do not want to see his (Qadeer Khan) movements restricted. He is a Pakistani and a respected Pakistani," Qureshi told Dawn TV channel. Qureshi also said he should be free to meet friends or go for a drive.

But TV channels reported on Tuesday that the authorities have barred Khan from media interviews.

Quoting official sources TV channels reported that the 72-year-old Khan will not be allowed to give telephone interviews to journalists.

On February 5, 2004, the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, announced that he had pardoned Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Opposition Islamic groups say that Qadeer Khan was forced to make confessional statement on the state-run television to appease the United States and the West.

Despite his public admission on state-run television of running a nuclear proliferation ring, Khan is regarded as a national hero in Pakistan and several political parties, including the PML-N that is part of the new ruling coalition, have said he should be freed from house arrest.

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