AQ Khan nails Pak govt's lie of him being off the Exit Control List

Islamabad, Nov 6 (ANI): Disgraced Pakistan nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has laughed off claims that his name does not exist on the Exit Control List (ECL).

"It is a joke to say I am not on the Exit Control List," The Dawn quoted Khan, as saying.

It may be noted that Khan, in an application to the Supreme Court, had complained that authorities have restricted his movements and that he was being subjected to police brutality while under house arrest.

Taking strong note of Khan's allegations, the apex court had sought a clarification from the Interior Ministry over the issue.

Responding to the court's queries, Attorney General of Pakistan, Shah Khawar said the government had decided to restrict Dr Khan's movements after receiving credible information that there is a threat to his life from international agencies.

Khawar also claimed that Khan's name was not included in the Exit Control List.

It is pertinent to mention here that Dr. Khan had challenged his official protocol, terming it a violation of his fundamental rights, following which the Lahore High Court directed the concerned authorities to remove all restrictions on his movements.

However, under intense international pressure, the government appealed against the court's directives, which saw the court put a stay order on the verdict.

Commenting on the issue, Dr. Khan's counsel, Syed Ali Zafar, argued that under Article 9 of the Constitution every citizen's fundamental rights of liberty and free movement should be guaranteed and the government was not authorised to restrict any individual under the garb of providing security.

The court has adjourned the hearing on the case till November 16.

In January 2004, Khan had confessed to having been involved in a secret international network of nuclear weapons technology proliferation from Pakistan to Libya, Iran and North Korea.

It is believed that Khan and his network were one of the worst proliferators of nuclear technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons. (ANI)