April 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 7: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Monday that the government would consider lifting restrictions imposed on country’s nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

In a statement, he said it was the competency 0of the government to review restrictions on the scientist.

Sources close to Dr Khan told Dawn his restrictions had already been relaxed and some of his close relatives met him in his house in Sector E-7. However, the sources said that lifting of restrictions did not mean that he would be allowed to move outside like a free man.

The sources said as a result of some relaxation given to him earlier, Dr Khan was able to meet his daughter Aysha Khan, sister Razia and brother-in-law Mohammad Hussain.

However, PPP leader Farhatullah Khan Babar said foreign minister’s statement did not reflect the government’s policy and it had not lifted restrictions on Dr Khan.

“No such decision is likely to be taken in the next couple of days,” Mr Babar said in reply to a question if Dr Khan would be allowed to meet people in next two days.

The sources said that Dr Khan’s daughter was the only family member who could meet her father during the ‘protective custody’ or house arrest. But she too has not been allowed to meet him over the past one year.

Meanwhile, three members of Senate -- Sadia Abbasi, Prof Khurshid and Maulana Rahat Husain -- have filed an adjournment motion in Senate, condemning what they called a ‘campaign of character assassination of Dr A. Q. Khan in electronic media.’