Pakistan:  Scientists Petition for Release

The Lahore High Court in Pakistan put off two petitions Monday for the release of seven Pakistani scientists detained for questioning concerning suspected links with Afghanistan (see GSN, Nov. 29).  Pakistani lawyer Ismail Qureshi appealed for the release of one of the scientists, Sultan Bashiru-Din Mehmood, on behalf of Mehmood’s mother.  Qureshi said authorities violated Pakistani law when they failed to apprise Mehmood of the charges against him and did not grant him access to a lawyer.  The judge hearing the case rejected Qureshi’s argument. 

The court also considered a petition for the release of other scientists detained with Mehmood (Pakistan News International, Dec. 4).

According to earlier reports, authorities have questioned Mehmood and several other scientists about possible links between their activities in Afghanistan and al-Qaeda’s alleged efforts to produce biological, radiological and nuclear weapons (see GSN, Nov. 26).

According to the Pakistani newspaper DAWN, M.D. Tahir, another lawyer who was also representing a petition for the release of the scientists, told the court that the petition has been pending for nearly a month (see GSN, Nov. 12).  Tahir said that Mehmood had not been informed of the grounds of his detention nor had he been allowed to communicate with anyone, including his mother, Fazilat Bibi (DAWN, Dec. 4).

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U.S.-Latvia:  Latvia Supports Nonproliferation Pact

Latvia stated its support Tuesday for a draft agreement with the United States to increase cooperation on combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction, according to the Latvian government press office.  Under the agreement, the United States would provide equipment and training to help Latvian law enforcement, fire fighting and revenue service agents to combat weapons proliferation.  In exchange, Latvia would simplify procedures for U.S. officials to enter and leave the country (Tallinn Baltic News Agency, Dec. 4 in FBIS-SOV, Dec. 5).

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