Islamabad, September 01: Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has admitted leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, said Tuesday restrictions on his movements had been lifted.
Asked if local newspaper reports that the government restrictions had been removed were correct, Khan said, “By the grace of Allah, yes.”
In February, a Pakistani court declared Khan a free man, five years after the reputed father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb was effectively put under house arrest for operating a proliferation network.
Last Friday, the 72-year-old Khan complained to a high court that his movements were still being restricted by the government’s security arrangements on his behalf. The court ordered the government to respond to Khan’s claim on September 4.
Local media have quoted Khan as saying that the restrictions had been withdrawn ahead of Friday’s hearing.
“The reports that you have read in newspapers are correct,” Khan told AFP, adding that he could not elaborate because the court had barred him from giving interviews to foreign media. He was, however, free to speak to local press.
A senior Islamabad police official told AFP that his force was not restricting Khan’s movements.
“As far as Islamabad police is concerned we are not restricting his movements,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
–Agencies