Court declares AQ Khan free

ISLAMABAD " Setting 73-year-old Dr AQ Khan free after hearing a petition against his detention, IHC Chief Justice Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam on Friday ruled "The petitioner is declared a free citizen and writ petition is disposed of." The court also ruled that charges against AQ Khan could not be proved.
A wave of happiness ran through the country when Islamabad High Court declared the country's top nuclear scientist a free citizen, ending his more than four years long house arrest.
Dr Khan has been languishing inside his heavily-guarded residence since 2004 after being implicated in a scandal regarding the proliferation of nuclear technology, a charge which Pakistani nation never believed.
Earlier, after the arguments of Barrister Ali Zafar, the counsel for AQ Khan, the government offered terms and conditions for releasing him through a classified document submitted before the IHC. The learned counsel for AQ Khan voluntarily accepted these terms and conditions.
"The petitioner is declared a free citizen and writ petition is disposed of in accordance with Annexure-A, contents of which shall not be issued to the Press or made public in any manner as requested by both the sides," the court ordered while annexing the terms and conditions with the court order.
The proceedings of the case took place inside the chamber of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam.
The court also directed the government to ensure VVIP protocol and security for AQ Khan.
The same court had earlier allowed AQ Khan to meet his close relatives subject to security clearance. In the order passed on July 21 last year, Justice Sardar Aslam had barred Dr Khan from interacting with the media.
After the court decision, Barrister Ali Zafar told media persons that the terms and conditions offered by the government had been voluntarily accepted to ensure the lifting of ban on the movement of Dr Khan.
These terms and conditions will, however, not be issued to media as requested by both the sides.
In the petition disposed of by IHC, Dr Khan had asked the court to order lifting of restrictions on his movement on the pretext of security measures.
Outrightly denying his involvement in nuclear proliferation, Dr Khan had stated that he did nothing wrong. The regime of former dictator Pervez Musharraf had forced him to read a confessional statement on state-run television, the petitioner had told the court.
After the ruling of IHC, a large number of citizens including political activists, members of civil society, lawyers, his friends and media gathered at the E-7 residence of Dr Khan.
When asked to confirm the implementation of court order regarding his release, a smiling Dr AQ Khan told media that restrictions on him had been lifted and the media presence around him was an evidence of the same.
Regarding his future plans, Dr Khan said he intended to visit Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah and would ask the government to permit him for the same.
Avoiding to reply a volley of questions regarding his alleged links with nuclear proliferation, Dr Khan said that was now a matter of the past.
The weak and frail but smiling top nuclear scientist said he would now focus more on social work, education and writing in newspapers. He said he would continue his former professional duties.
Dr Khan also appreciated the steps of PPP government for his release and termed it a goodwill gesture of the government.
Replying to questions regarding the threats to his life, Dr Khan said Zionists, Christians and Hindus were always after him due to his role in turning Pakistan into a nuclear state but Allah Almighty always protected him.
When asked whether he would help the present government, Dr Khan said his services would remain available to the government in national interest.
Replying to a query regarding the role of America in his detention, Dr Khan said he only belonged to Pakistan and had nothing to do with any other country.
"I do not desire to take action against anyone responsible for my prolonged illegal detention," Dr Khan said when asked whether he would like to file a case against Musharraf for detaining him.
Following is the detailed IHC verdict in Dr Khan case:
Text of the order of the Islamabad High Court issued in a petition against the detention of nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.
1. Syed Ali Zafar Advocate, learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that petitioner is not involved in any criminal activity, including so-called Nuclear proliferation and he be declared a free citizen with due State protection in accordance with terms of mutual agreement.
2. Be that as it may, after arguing at some length, the respondent No.1 has offered the terms and conditions fully detailed in Annexure-A, which has been voluntarily accepted by learned counsel for the petitioner.
3. The petitioner is declared a free citizen and writ petition is disposed of in accordance with Annexure-A, contents of which shall not be issued to the press or made public in any manner as requested by both the sides.