Detaining unwell Dr Khan a bid to please the US, says JI chief

Islamabad, Mar 8 : Jamaat-i-Islami Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad has said that Pakistan nuclear scientist Dr AQ Khan's house arrest was illegal and detaining him while he was not keeping well and not allowing him to meet relatives and friends was Pakistan's administration's bid to please the US.

The Qazi also urged the winning political parties to make Dr Khan the new President of Pakistan. "It is incumbent on the winning democratic forces to immediately announce to install Dr Qadeer Khan as the President of the country", the JI chief demanded.

He said this while talking to media persons after an unsuccessful attempt to meet Dr Khan who is admitted in KRL hospital.

"Our national hero is seriously ill and to keep him detained in this precarious condition of health and disallowing him to meet others is a bid to please the US," the Dawn quoted the Qazi as saying.

He added: "Dr A Q Khan is the heart-throb of the nation. His ailment has sent a wave of shock and dismay among the people. He should be allowed to meet his relatives and friends to allay his mental shock."

The JI president further said that Dr Khan was his old friend and it was a heinous act on the part of government to disallow him to meet nuclear scientist.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed said that first the hospital authorities had told them that AQ Khan was not in the hospital but later told that the Admin officer was not present in hospital to give permission. "We were also told that Dr Khan is taking rest and does not want to meet anyone", he said adding that that the government had disconnected Dr Khan's phone which was a shameful act of the government.

He alleged that the hospital administration had kept Abdul Qadeer in detention at 4th floor of the hospital.

ANI