Dr AQ Khan barred from giving interviews

LHC restrains Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from giving interviews to the media, asks govt to abide by agreement on his rights.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday restrained nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from giving interviews to the media and directed the Federal government to abide by the agreement in relation to his rights.

Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry issued this order while disposing of an application of Dr Khan, saying the government in violation of the direction given to it by this court last May, has put restrictions on his movement, and also with respect to him meeting his friends and relatives, on the pretext of his security.

During the proceedings, through a report in response to the application, a deputy attorney general on behalf of the federal government informed the court that over the last two months as many as 56 times, Dr Khan was subjected to a medical check up, while he was allowed on 290 occasions, to meet with his friends and relatives.

However, the court said that the applicant has been giving interviews to the media related to the sensitive nuclear issues which is directly connected to the state’s integrity.

The government stressed through the report that the situation has created problems and embarrassment for them, hence demanding to restrict him from giving media interviews.

The court restricted Dr Khan from giving interviews; however, it also asked the government to implement and abide by the agreement earlier made in relation to the rights of the applicant.

It may be recalled that Dr Khan through a letter had invited attention of the court saying, despite order of the court to allow him free movement with security protocol, the authorities had put a ban on his outer movement, hence forcing him to live similar to a prison in his house.

Khan was also unhappy with the alleged restriction put on his meeting with others and pleaded to the court to direct the government to lift bans and allow him free movement.

On a previous date, the court while calling for a report on the application had asked the government to implement the court decree.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2010.