ID :
13259
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 17:57
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13259
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Pak court allows Khan to meet relatives, friends
Islamabad, Jul 21 (PTI) A Pakistani court Monday allowed disgraced nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan, under house arrest for the past four years, to meet his relatives and friends subject to security clearances but barred him from giving interviewsto the media regarding the nuclear proliferation scandal.
Disposing of a petition filed on Khan's behalf by advocate Javed Iqbal Jafferi, Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam of the Islamabad High Court said there should be "no restrictions" on Khan's visits within Pakistan to "meet any ofhis close relations subject to security clearance".
However, it also ruled that Khan should not "convey any information regarding proliferation to any of his relations orfriends by any means whatsoever".
The court said the scientist should be provided healthcare by a doctor of his choice. It also said: "adequate arrangements shall be made for the visit of Dr. A.Q. Khan to the Science Foundation (in Islamabad) under strict securityarrangements".
The Islamabad High Court had on July 16 reserved its judgement on Jafferi's petition challenging Khan's detention after an in-camera hearing with the lawyers of the scientist and the government. Today's judgement was silent on the issue of Khan's house arrest as well as the legality of thedetention.
The five-page order issued by the Chief Justice said: "Dr. A.Q. Khan will be allowed to meet his close relatives and friends subject to security clearance and necessary precautions and measures taken in regard to his security andsafety, which is of paramount importance.
"He will inform the security agencies well in time the details of his close relatives or friends so that (the government is) able to make necessary arrangements." The order further said: "The detenue (Khan) will not convey, transmit, relay any comments or give interview to any channel, news reporter, print or electronic media in any manner whatsoever in respect of the issue of proliferation." Government counsel Ahmer Bilal Sofi said that though Khan was earlier allowed to meet friends and relatives, there is now a "judicial mandate" for this purpose. "A judicial directive is more powerful than occasional concessions that were given (by the government)," he told reporters outside thecourt.
The court had given "tangible relief" to Khan, Sofi said. Jafferi said he would comment on the court's order afterdiscussing it with Khan.
Khan has been under house arrest since February 2004, when he confessed on state-run television to running a nuclear proliferation ring. However, in recent interviews, he recantedthe confession and said it was made under pressure.
In a statement recently submitted in the High Court, the government said Khan's comments in media interviews could jeopardise national interests and his access to telephones andthe internet should be restricted.
Disposing of a petition filed on Khan's behalf by advocate Javed Iqbal Jafferi, Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam of the Islamabad High Court said there should be "no restrictions" on Khan's visits within Pakistan to "meet any ofhis close relations subject to security clearance".
However, it also ruled that Khan should not "convey any information regarding proliferation to any of his relations orfriends by any means whatsoever".
The court said the scientist should be provided healthcare by a doctor of his choice. It also said: "adequate arrangements shall be made for the visit of Dr. A.Q. Khan to the Science Foundation (in Islamabad) under strict securityarrangements".
The Islamabad High Court had on July 16 reserved its judgement on Jafferi's petition challenging Khan's detention after an in-camera hearing with the lawyers of the scientist and the government. Today's judgement was silent on the issue of Khan's house arrest as well as the legality of thedetention.
The five-page order issued by the Chief Justice said: "Dr. A.Q. Khan will be allowed to meet his close relatives and friends subject to security clearance and necessary precautions and measures taken in regard to his security andsafety, which is of paramount importance.
"He will inform the security agencies well in time the details of his close relatives or friends so that (the government is) able to make necessary arrangements." The order further said: "The detenue (Khan) will not convey, transmit, relay any comments or give interview to any channel, news reporter, print or electronic media in any manner whatsoever in respect of the issue of proliferation." Government counsel Ahmer Bilal Sofi said that though Khan was earlier allowed to meet friends and relatives, there is now a "judicial mandate" for this purpose. "A judicial directive is more powerful than occasional concessions that were given (by the government)," he told reporters outside thecourt.
The court had given "tangible relief" to Khan, Sofi said. Jafferi said he would comment on the court's order afterdiscussing it with Khan.
Khan has been under house arrest since February 2004, when he confessed on state-run television to running a nuclear proliferation ring. However, in recent interviews, he recantedthe confession and said it was made under pressure.
In a statement recently submitted in the High Court, the government said Khan's comments in media interviews could jeopardise national interests and his access to telephones andthe internet should be restricted.
