09 January 2004	Friday	16 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, on Thursday issued a notice to the government and the Inter-Services Intelligence director-general to explain within a week their position about the alleged illegal detention of a director of the Khan Research Laboratories.

Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq directed the two respondents to submit comments on the petition of Khush Niaz, wife of nuclear scientist Dr Mohammad Farooq. The petitioner has sought the release of her husband from the custody of the ISI.

Through her counsel Advocate Chaudhry Ikram, she stated that her husband was picked up from his house in Rawalpindi on Nov 23 without warrants by a team led by an army officer, who identified himself as Col Nisar Ahmad.

Chaudhry Ikram said he was being followed by secret agency sleuths. He said that since his meeting with nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer a week ago his surveillance by the secret agencies had increased.

The petition would be taken up on Jan 15. Justice Haq directed the government to appoint its counsel in the case and file comments before the next hearing.