Pakistani Suspected in Nuke Leaks Is Freed
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan AP- A senior Pakistani scientist suspected of helping leak nuclear weapons technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea has been released after two years in detention, an army spokesman said Sunday.
Mohammed Farooq, who worked at Pakistan's top nuclear weapons facility, was detained in December 2003, along with 10 other people, when it was revealed that the head of the facility, Abdul Qadeer Khan, gave sensitive technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Farooq, who was director general at Khan Research Laboratories, was suspected of allegedly leaking technology on Khan's orders.
He was freed last week, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan told The Associated Press.
Asked whether Farooq would be allowed to keep his job at the laboratories, Sultan said only that "he has been advised to restrict his movement and activities and stay at home for security reasons."
Sultan would not say whether Farooq had been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Farooq was the last of the 11 people detained in 2003 who remained in custody. The 11 — scientists, security and administration personnel who worked at the lab — were detained for questioning over the spread of nuclear technology in the alleged black market network that Khan headed.
There was no immediate comment from Farooq or his family. The other nuclear officials have avoided speaking with the media or discussing their detention publicly after their release.
In February 2004, Khan confessed that he sold nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
But President Gen. Pervez Musharraf pardoned him due to his role in giving Pakistan a nuclear prowess to rival that of neighboring India. The two countries carried out nuclear tests in 1998.
Khan, who is regarded as a national hero by many Pakistanis, has since been confined to his home in the capital, Islamabad, amid tight security. Officials have said Khan's movement has been curtailed for security concerns.
Pakistan, a close U.S. ally in the war against terrorism, has rejected Washington's requests for access to Khan for questioning on nuclear black marketing.
Mohammed Farooq, who worked at Pakistan's top nuclear weapons facility, was detained in December 2003, along with 10 other people, when it was revealed that the head of the facility, Abdul Qadeer Khan, gave sensitive technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Farooq, who was director general at Khan Research Laboratories, was suspected of allegedly leaking technology on Khan's orders.
He was freed last week, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan told The Associated Press.
Asked whether Farooq would be allowed to keep his job at the laboratories, Sultan said only that "he has been advised to restrict his movement and activities and stay at home for security reasons."
Sultan would not say whether Farooq had been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Farooq was the last of the 11 people detained in 2003 who remained in custody. The 11 — scientists, security and administration personnel who worked at the lab — were detained for questioning over the spread of nuclear technology in the alleged black market network that Khan headed.
There was no immediate comment from Farooq or his family. The other nuclear officials have avoided speaking with the media or discussing their detention publicly after their release.
In February 2004, Khan confessed that he sold nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
But President Gen. Pervez Musharraf pardoned him due to his role in giving Pakistan a nuclear prowess to rival that of neighboring India. The two countries carried out nuclear tests in 1998.
Khan, who is regarded as a national hero by many Pakistanis, has since been confined to his home in the capital, Islamabad, amid tight security. Officials have said Khan's movement has been curtailed for security concerns.
Pakistan, a close U.S. ally in the war against terrorism, has rejected Washington's requests for access to Khan for questioning on nuclear black marketing.
posted by Marko at 5/01/2006 10:29:00 AM
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