AQ can't talk to media

“He will be allowed to meet close relatives subject to security clearance, which is of paramount importance. He will not be allowed to make interviews to any print or television channel on the issue of nuclear proliferation,” Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam said in his short order on the petition filed by Barrister Iqbal Jaffery, a friend Dr Khan.

“The detenue will not convey/transmit relay any comments or give interview to any channel, news reporter, print or electronic media in any manner, whatsoever in respect of issue of proliferation”, the Chief Justice IHC further observed in the order which has confirmed that Dr A Q Khan is under detention, a fact that government authorities have been denying so far.

Dr A Q Khan has been under strict house arrest since 2004 when President Pervez Musharraf announced to pardon him after a shocking confessional statement of father of country’s nuclear programme on state run television channel regarding his role in nuclear proliferation. Dr Khan, has, however, recently stated that he had given the statement in the interest of country.

Commenting on the verdict, Barrister Iqbal Jaffery, a close friend of Dr A Q Khan and the petitioner in the case, lauded the IHC for relaxing the restrictions but said it was not enough.