Lahore: A Pakistani court on Tuesday directed
authorities not to bar disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan
from moving freely and meeting relatives and issued a contempt
of court notice to the federal government.
Justice Ijaz Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court
directed the authorities to adhere to the security protocol
framed for Khan during an earlier hearing by the court.
Under this protocol, Khan is allowed to meet visitors
and to travel freely after informing authorities about his
movements.
The judge directed the government to file a detailed
reply to its contempt of court notice by October 8.
In a letter written to Justice Chaudhry, Khan had
complained that the authorities were not implementing the
court`s order and his movements were being restricted in the
name of his security protocol.
Khan claimed the arrangements by the government
violated his fundamental rights as he was barred from meeting
relatives, political leaders and media representatives.
Syed Ali Zafar, the counsel for Khan, said: "The
government has imposed illegal restraints on Khan`s free
movement and liberty under the garb of security.
"The government is relying on an illegal document to
impose security on him".
Khan is required to act upon the "advice of an
officer" of the government in respect of his movements and
such terms violate his fundamental rights, Zafar said.
Earlier, Deputy Attorney General Naved Inayat Malik
had informed the High Court that the court had directed Khan
to inform law enforcement agencies about his movements but he
refused to cooperate with them.
"His attitude (with them) is not good," Malik said.
After reaching an agreement with the Pakistan People`s
Party-led federal government early last year, Khan`s house
arrest was ended five years after he was detained for running
a clandestine proliferation network.
PTI
