Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan on Monday maintained that he is fully complying with the court’s directions restricting his free movement and communication. He, however, claimed that he has not received a copy of the court order issued on February 6, 2009 despite repeated requests.
In his reply submitted before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by his lawyer Advocate Raja Zafar Khaliq, Dr Khan stated that according to documents revealed by Wikileaks, Kamal Shah, the then Secretary Interior went to the US embassy on February 7, 2009 and handed a copy of the court order for his house arrest to the then US ambassador.
Dr Khan affirmed that he has not communicated or disclosed any sensitive information to anyone. He maintained that as per court orders, he informs his security officer, Col Arif Mahmood Khan, half-an-hour before departure when going out anywhere in Islamabad and one day before when going to another city. He said that he always travels in a bullet-proof car with his security officer, along with five or six escort cars and police vans.
IHC had earlier received a petition by Dr Khan’s Chief Security Coordinator Colonel Muhammad Faheem on behest of the Ministry of Interior on June 6, saying Dr Khan has been defying IHC’s orders restricting the nuclear scientist’s movement and communication due to rising security concerns. The court had directed Dr Khan to respond by the first week of July.
In his reply, Dr Khan maintained that from the first day of his house arrest, he has been harassed by police officials and his life made difficult on the pretext of security. He claimed that he is only allowed visits by physicians at home, and his ailments such as depression, stress, high blood pressure and possible cancer, are a direct result of his incarceration.
Dr Khan said that he has lost 3 older brothers, one sister-in-law, one niece and the grandson of his elder brother, all within the last two years. Many people paid social calls while only his close aides, including Ch. Shujaat Hussain, visited him at his home to condole these losses. “The insinuation of suspected visitors is pure nonsense,” he stated in his reply.
The petitioner had raised objections on Dr Khan frequent travelling and his decision to attend public meetings. He had contended that Dr Khan negligent of his security arrangements and insists to travel on short notices to insecure places. “Dr Khan decided on his own to visit Bahria Town and Gujranwala twice against the specific advice of his security officials,” the petitioner said.
He had maintained that the security situation in the country is “extremely serious”. The recent issue of Raymond Davis proves that there are covert foreign operators inside Pakistan and given Dr Khan’s profile, one cannot rule out that he would be a focus of their attention, he added.
The petitioner also claimed that Dr Khan has also made some unauthorised communications in violation of specific court orders that directed him not to communicate on sensitive matters.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2011.
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