AQ Khan The Tainted Nuke Scientist Freed By Pakistani Court

Disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan was declared a free man by the Islamabad High Court on Friday, even as media reports suggested that the present Pakistani establishment had come to an out-of-court settlement on easing restrictions imposed on him.

Responding to a petition filed by Khan seeking the further easing of restrictions on him, the Islamabad High Court reiterated its judgement of some months ago that the scientist was a free citizen subject to some security measures.

His house arrest was also abolished. The court also directed the government to provide VVIP security to Dr Khan on an immediate basis. Dr Khan is free now to express his views, interact with the media.

The High Court said Khan, who was accused of running a nuclear proliferation ring, could freely move around within the country and can also visit the Science Foundation for research.

There is also no bar on close friends and relatives meeting him, it said.

However, TV channels reported that Khan had reached some sort of secret, out-of-court agreement with the government on easing restrictions imposed on the scientist after he admitted to running a nuclear proliferation ring in early 2004.

These things happen: Khan

After the judgement, a visibly relieved Khan said, "These things happen. We should forget and look forward."

Khan told reporters that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also been "inside".

"The government had made arrangements and nobody could hurt me. Now also, the government will take care," Khan said.

He also ruled out any vengeance against ex-President Musharraf who had placed him under house arrest saying that Musharraf had been punished by God since now he was out of power.

Khan while ruling out allegiance towards any country other than Pakistan, said that he neither intended to go abroad or enter politics and his thrust would be towards improving the education scenario in his nation.

However, after today’s judgement, only his house arrest has been withdrawn but he has not been acquitted of the charges against him. The case will continue to be tried in the court.

The most serious charge against him was pertaining to him being the kingpin of the network that sold nuclear technology to countries like North Korea, Iran and Libya.

However, after these charges were levelled at him he was sacked from his post and put under house arrest. Musharraf had then rejected calls for his interrogation by other countries saying that Pakistan had good interrogators and questioning by outsiders would undermine the country’s capability.