Pakistan increases security for AQ Khan, other scientists

[AnGrz_Z_K_Jailer]

PTI Thursday, January 21, 2010 20:56 IST

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government today beefed up security for disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan and other leading scientists of the country in view of recent incidents of "abduction and killing of scientists in neighbouring countries".


The decision to enhance security for Khan and other scientists was made at a high-level meeting chaired by interior minister Rehman Malik.

The meeting was held on the directive of prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, an official statement said.

The statement said the security was being increased after "recent incidents of abduction and killing of scientists in neighbouring countries". It did not give details.

"The security of our nuclear capability is very important and paramount for the country. Therefore, various measures in this respect were discussed to ensure foolproof security for Dr AQ Khan and other scientists," the statement said.

The meeting was attended by information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, law minister Babar Awan, the interior secretary, strategic plans division director general Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Kidwai and other officials.

The strategic plans division is responsible for safeguarding Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

The move came two days after the federal government filed a petition in the Lahore High Court asking it to bar Khan from moving around freely, meeting people and giving interviews to the media in the interest of national security.

The court issued a notice seeking Khan's response to the petition at the next hearing scheduled for January 25. Khan was placed under house arrest in early 2004 after he confessed to running a nuclear proliferation network on state-run television.

Following a secret understanding between Khan and the government last year, a court eased some of the restrictions
imposed on him.

However, Khan has filed several petitions seeking further easing of restrictions on his movement.

Recent revelations made by the Western media on the basis of a letter written by Khan to a journalist have caused embarrassment to the Pakistan government, which insists that the scientist's case is a "closed chapter".

Source : Pakistan increases security for AQ Khan, other scientists - dnaindia.com