Islamabad, Apr 18: The detention of four associates of top Pakistani scientist A Q Khan for their suspected involvement in proliferation of nuclear technology has been extended by another three months. The four, all of them former officials of the premier nuclear installation Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), were taken into custody three months ago after Pakistan received a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that some Pakistanis were involved in passing nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Khan, the architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme, is currently confined to his home after he was pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf following his confession that he passed nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Hassamul Haq, the brother of one of the four detainees Major (Retd) Islamul Haq, said he was verbally informed about a three-month extension in the detention of his brother. Major Haq was the principal secretary to khan and was detained on January 17, 2004. Usman Nazir, son of detained nuclear scientist Nazir Ahmad, also talked about similar verbal information about an extension in his father's detention.
However, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said their cases would be reviewed by the board of the Supreme Court.
KRL's former security director Brig (Retd) Sajawal Khan and nuclear scientist Mohammad Farooq are also under detention.
Bureau Report