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Lift restrictions on AQ Khan, LHC orders govt

* Court issues contempt notice to Islamabad district magistrate, DIG
* US waiting for ‘clarification’ from Pakistani officials on court’s order

Staff Report

LAHORE: Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the government on Friday to lift the restrictions placed upon nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Accepting Dr AQ Khan’s petition that the restrictions imposed upon him in the name of protocol were a violation of fundamental rights, the judge ordered the local administration to implement the decision in letter and spirit. He also issued contempt notices on the district magistrate and deputy inspector general of Islamabad, demanding they appear before the court on September 4 and explain their actions in light of an earlier court ruling that had declared Khan a “free citizen”.

“It is excellent and heart warming and very gratifying,” Khan told reporters gathered at his house. “I think the people who have been involved in playing mischief with me will get the message and allow me to live a peaceful, private life as a citizen,” the Associated Press quoted him as saying.

During the proceedings, Khan’s lawyer Ali Zafar said his client had already been declared a free man by the Islamabad High Court in a ruling on a petition challenging Dr Khan’s virtual house arrest under former president Pervez Musharraf. He submitted that following the judgement, Dr Khan had agreed to a security protocol from the government. Since then, he has had to tell authorities of his travel plans, get permission for guests to visit him at home, and intelligence agents and security officials have maintained a heavy presence outside his house, prompting him to launch a fresh petition.

Zafar said that in violation of the court’s order, and the security package agreed between the government and Dr Khan, his client had been restrained at his residence and was practically under house arrest.

After hearing Zafar’s arguments, Justice Chaudhry said prima facie contempt of court had been committed and ordered show-cause notices to be issued to the police and administration involved.

Waiting: US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters on Friday the US had seen press reports on the court decision but was waiting for “clarification” from Pakistani officials before commenting further. “We need to find out exactly from the government of Pakistan what this means, in terms of his ability to travel,” Kelly added.

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