Pak eases restrictions on A Q Khan

[KashifAsrar]

ToI feed as of 3rd July 2007.
Kashif

Pak eases restrictions on A Q Khan ​

Islamabad: Authorities have eased the virtual house arrest imposed on A Q Khan, the disgraced scientist who sold Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, officials said on Monday.
In his first public comment in years, Khan said that he was recovering from treatment for cancer, but declined to discuss other topics. Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, confessed in 2004 to heading an international ring of smugglers that supplied sensitive technology to Iran and others.
Pervez Musharraf pardoned him while confining him to his villa in the capital, Islamabad. The house is kept under close guard and he has been permitted few visitors.
However, two senior government officials said that the restrictions were eased several months ago and he can now meet friends and relatives either at his home or elsewhere in Pakistan. “There were several restrictions on Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, many of which have been eased. He is virtually a free citizen,’’ said one of the officials, who is attached to the nuclear programme.
However, the second official said Khan was only allowed to meet associates and relatives on a list approved by officials. His freedom of movement was still curbed because of security concerns, according to the officials, both of whom asked not to be named.
The foreign ministry said there has been no change in Khan’s status. Asked whether the government had relaxed restrictions on Khan, an official said “there is no change in his status. He continues to lead a quiet life with his family. He meets his friends. He talks to people. This was happening even before the news reports,” she said. AP

 

[lahori786]

ToI feed as of 3rd July 2007.
Kashif

Pak eases restrictions on A Q Khan ​

Islamabad: Authorities have eased the virtual house arrest imposed on A Q Khan, the disgraced scientist who sold Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, officials said on Monday.
In his first public comment in years, Khan said that he was recovering from treatment for cancer, but declined to discuss other topics. Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, confessed in 2004 to heading an international ring of smugglers that supplied sensitive technology to Iran and others.
Pervez Musharraf pardoned him while confining him to his villa in the capital, Islamabad. The house is kept under close guard and he has been permitted few visitors.
However, two senior government officials said that the restrictions were eased several months ago and he can now meet friends and relatives either at his home or elsewhere in Pakistan. “There were several restrictions on Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, many of which have been eased. He is virtually a free citizen,’’ said one of the officials, who is attached to the nuclear programme.
However, the second official said Khan was only allowed to meet associates and relatives on a list approved by officials. His freedom of movement was still curbed because of security concerns, according to the officials, both of whom asked not to be named.
The foreign ministry said there has been no change in Khan’s status. Asked whether the government had relaxed restrictions on Khan, an official said “there is no change in his status. He continues to lead a quiet life with his family. He meets his friends. He talks to people. This was happening even before the news reports,” she said. AP

Musharraf should "commute" his sentence and allow a hero like AQ Khan to live his once again. After all, Bush did a similar thing with Scooter Libby.

 

[bhangra12345]

Musharraf should "commute" his sentence and allow a hero like AQ Khan to live his once again. After all, Bush did a similar thing with Scooter Libby.

The moment AQ is free to the outer world, there will be renewed demand for interogating him by foreign agencies. Do you want that to happen? Actually Musharaff played his cards quite well in my opinion, where all the interrogations were conducted in secret(if they were made). So that he can face both the international media and local populace at the same time.

Bush is someone called a lame duck president. He cannot have another term, so whatever he does, it does not affect his future terms. whereas for Musharaff??