Two Pakistani nuclear scientists with reported ties to alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden will not face charges, the Washington Post reported today (see GSN, Jan. 2).

Pakistani officials concluded that the two scientists, Sultan Bashiru-din Mehmood and Chaudry Abdul Majid, did violate secrecy oaths during visits to Afghanistan, according to the Post.  The officials, however, decided that Mehmood and Majid were not able to give out information on how to construct a nuclear weapon, and that a trial would only risk disclosure of information on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

“So far everything that relates to our nuclear program is a state secret,” said a senior Pakistani official.  “By talking to Osama and his folks in Afghanistan, the two scientists broke their oath to secrecy, yet we were forced to ignore their action in the best interest of the nation.”

As a condition of a government deal, Mehmood and Majid will remain in a safe house in Islamabad and will have their travels and communications restricted, the Post reported.  Mehmood’s family agreed to the resolution and on Monday withdrew a legal complaint seeking his release (see GSN, Dec. 6).

“There was a settlement.  It was a mutual understanding between him and the government,” said Ismail Qureshi, attorney for Mehmood’s family.  “They are not prisoners.  What was communicated to me was they were under protective custody for their own protection” (Baker/Khan, Washington Post, Jan. 30).

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