ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: The government has allowed nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan to undergo the prostate removal operation at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi on Friday.

Dr Khan is likely to be flown out of Islamabad on Wednesday.

Recently, doctors had declared that the scientist was suffering from a curable form of cancer in his prostate.

Preliminary laboratory tests conducted on Dr Khan had proved that cancer was in a preliminary stage and that the nuclear scientist needed an immediate surgery so as to contain the spread of the disease.

Dr Khan, who has been under house arrest since January 2004, is reportedly unable to afford the cost of operation and travel as his bank accounts and those of his brothers and sisters have been frozen.

A financial estimate, prepared by those looking after him, has been sent to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who is expected to approve it on his return from abroad on Tuesday.

It is learnt that three brothers and two sisters of Dr Khan living in Karachi have not been informed of his impending travel to Karachi for the operation.