The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the Attorney General to appear before the court on July 15 regarding 'illegal detention' case of top nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan. The court also issued notice to Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Raja Abdur Rehman for hiding the facts from the court regarding the 'illegal confinement' of Dr A.Q Khan.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Aslam issued the directives while hearing a habeas corpus case filed by Advocate M. Javed Iqbal Jafferi under Article 199. Earlier, the court had directed the federal government to submit a concise statement clarifying its stance over the detention of Dr A.Q. Khan. DAG Raja Abdur Rehman had said that Dr Khan was not detained rather was being protected due to security reasons.
The DAG had contended that the writ petition should be dismissed on the grounds that the petitioner had no blood relation with A.Q. Khan. Iqbal Javed Jafferi said the reference of Supreme Court's decision provided by the DAG had no bearing upon the case as 'words of blood relation, were not used in it.
He said that any person having close association with A.Q. Khan could approach the court. He stressed that he had close relations with the detained nuclear scientist for the last 40 years. The petitioner contended that Dr Khan had been under detention for the last five years and he was not allowed even to meet his relatives.
He requested the court to initiate criminal proceedings against the DAG for obstruction of justice and perversion of the Constitution. The court after hearing the arguments of the petitioner issued notice to the DAG for July 15. He said that the health of Dr Khan has deteriorated substantially during last five years of 'agony, angst and trial'.
Meanwhile, the court also entertained a letter written to the IHC Chief Justice by the spouse of Dr A.Q. Khan about the detention of her husband in the regular petition. The court treated the letter as a petition and fixed July 4 for hearing. Mrs Hendrina Khan, in her letter, said that her husband has been under illegal detention for last five years.
She said that the DAG has made a false statement about the detention of her husband, which had hurt the sentiments of the family. She said that no one is allowed to meet the nuclear scientist, which is against the spirit of justice. The security arrangements at her house are just a drama to befool the public, she added.