ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Thursday said that no one was above law and a person from any organization, "of any rank", could be included in the ongoing 'debriefing' sessions if he was found involved in suspected nuclear technology transfer to any foreign country.

Talking to reporters after attending a briefing on various development projects being executed by the Capital Development Authority, the minister said anyone from any organization or institution would be taken to task if found involved in the suspected transfer of nuclear technology.

In reply to a question about the possibility of debriefing of Gen (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg, Mr Hayat said: "At this stage I would not specify any individual but any person of any rank who has provided such information to any other country and maligned Pakistan's reputation should be punished".

He said an open trial of the Khan Research Laboratories officials, who had been held for debriefing, could not be conducted for several reasons. "Open trials of the KRL officials may bring some government secrets to public," the minister said, adding this would be harmful to the country's interests.

He said the country's nuclear programme was not the property of any individual, and the nation would not forgive those who had transferred it to other countries for sake of money.

In reply to a question about a statement by PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar that Gen Beg had offered Rs12 billion to the then PML-N government for selling nuclear technology to a Muslim country, the minister said: "If it is true then why Mr Dar did not disclose it when he was the finance minister".

About the arrest of 10 Al Qaeda activists in Karachi last week, he said the detainees were involved in recent terrorist activities. Talking about the missing Punjab Culture Minister Naeemullah Shahani, he said some tribesmen had kidnapped him and taken him to an unknown place and added that efforts were being made to recover him.

About the Pakistan visit of British Home Secretary Jack Straw's visit, who is arriving here on Friday, Mr Hayat said extradition of various people wanted in different cases in Pakistan would come under discussion. He said there was no possibility of signing an extradition treaty with India.