Pakistani PM to Receive Khan Release Plan

Senior Pakistani officials decided Tuesday to send the country’s prime minister a plan to release former top Pakistani nuclear scientist and proliferator Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest, Asian News International reported (see GSN, April 8).

Pakistani Prime Minister Makhdoom Yousuf Raza Gillani would receive an outline of a plan for Khan’s release and protection, according to sources close to Rehman Malik, Gilliani’s interior and narcotics control adviser.  A date for Khan’s proposed release has not yet been determined.

Khan has been confined to his Islamabad home since confessing to providing nuclear knowledge and technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.  Pakistan’s government has denied all international requests to question the scientist about his nuclear smuggling activities.

Khan told an independent television station on Tuesday that he is convinced the government would continue to prevent the International Atomic Energy Agency from speaking with him, and he expects the Pakistani military to provide him with protection.

“The concept of my detention as a security measure is totally wrong,” he said.  “I want freedom and to live a normal life with my family.”

Khan added that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons arsenal is completely secure (see GSN, April 9; Asian News International/New Kerala, April 9).

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