ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Two senior officials of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) have gone missing under mysterious circumstances, sources in the KRL told Dawn on Wednesday.

The sources said director general Dr Yasin Chohan and director laboratories Dr Farooq were missing for the last one week.

Responding to a query in this regard, a foreign office spokesman said that people associated with sensitive programmes in Pakistan “are governed by a stringent personnel dependability and debrief programme.

This is a normal practice, especially in nuclear weapons states. These people are aware of their responsibilities in terms of their efficiency and conduct.”

He said under the programme, individuals may have to undergo debriefing sessions and that “the matter referred to falls within the scope of this practice”.

The official added that as for Iran, there are reports about many sources from where Iran could have obtained nuclear technology, including several Western companies and individuals.

The focus should be on checking out with those sources. “We, for our part, are simply carrying out our own procedures,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that director laboratories Dr Farooq used to be very close to the founder of the KRL Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and was known as a “King” of the laboratories.

Nobody in the Khan Research Laboratories exactly knew about the whereabouts of the two scientists and it is believed that they have been picked up by the personnel of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

When contacted, public relations officer of the KRL said he was completely in the dark about the issue.

The founder of the KRL Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated efforts. “Dr Khan is not at home and it is very difficult to tell where he will be at this time,” a person who received the telephone call at the residence of Dr Khan at Banni Gala told Dawn.