Pak government moves petition in LHC to quiz AQ Khan over proliferation disclosures

London, Mar.23 (ANI): The Pakistan government has moved a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking permission to quiz disgraced nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan regarding his disclosure to a foreign newspaper about his involvement in offering nuclear know how to Iraq and Iran.

The petition, which has come just ahead of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States during which Islamabad is likely to push for a civil nuclear deal, cited an alleged interview that Khan gave to The Washington Post.

Khan had reportedly admitted in the interview that he was involved in proliferation to Iran and Iraq.

"We want to question Dr Khan about this interview, which has revealed sensitive information about Pakistan's nuclear programme," The BBC quoted the government's petition, as saying.

"We want to learn who is passing on such information to foreign newspapers. Such information has a direct bearing on the security of Pakistan's nuclear programme," the application stated.

The interview, which has angered the Pakistan government, was published in two parts on March 10 and March 14 in The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Dr. Khan has denied giving any such interview and said that the details have been fabricated.

The Lahore High Court has been hearing a petition filed by Dr. Khan challenging the security protocol imposed on him by the federal government.

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. (ANI)