The government had offered Dr Khan some terms and conditions for an amicable solution of the issue, said the counsel for Dr Khan after the announcement of the decision. However, it was also agreed by both the parties not to publicise terms and conditions of the accord.
"He will have all rights available to people under the Constitution and the Quran," said Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery, a close friend and counsel of Dr Khan. Dr Khan was put under house arrest in 2004 soon after his televised confession to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Later, he had denied the allegations levelled against him, saying he was forced by the government to make confessional statement in the larger interest of the country. Pakistan regards the Khan nuclear proliferation case as closed, but the US and international nuclear experts, investigating proliferation, still want to question Khan.
Earlier, in July last year the court in its judgement barred Dr Khan from speaking on the issues of proliferation, but allowed to meet his relatives, friends and move freely following some provisions regarding security arrangements.
The same bench also dismissed two identical writ petitions on October 31 and November 18 filed against the detention of Dr Khan. The court observed that Dr A. Q Khan should have to file the petition by himself if he was facing any problem due to his security arrangements. In the light of Supreme Court rulings, only family members of Dr Khan can file a petition against his detention, observed the Chief Justice.
Dr Khan challenged his allegedly illegal confinement. The court suggested to the government for an out of the court settlement with Dr Khan. During the course of last hearing before the judgement, Deputy Attorney General apprised the court that the government would soon reach an out of the court agreement.
"I think the restrictions have been lifted and that is why you are allowed to come here," Dr Khan told reporters after the announcement of the judgement at his residence. "I will focus on education and will keep on writing in newspapers," he added.