Renowned nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has filed written reply before the Lahore High Court in response to a petition of federal government praying to restrain him from giving media interviews and meeting people without security clearance. In his reply Dr Khan has negated the government's plea that he has been giving interviews to local or foreign media. He uses to write columns in newspapers but he never discussed nuclear project of the country.

It is merely an allegation that he has been in direct or indirect communication with any foreign journalist. "I never gave any media statement which would harm for national security," the reply says. Dr Khan pleads that the government's demand of limiting his movement was in violation of fundamental rights.

He, therefore, requested the court to dismiss the petition of the government by declaring it without lawful jurisdiction. The LHC on January 19 had issued notice to Dr Khan and asked him to file his reply. Advocate Ahmar Bilal Soofi, on behalf of federation of Pakistan, had submitted that Dr Khan should be prevented from giving interviews, meeting people and moving around without security clearance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010