July 04, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 3: Ms Hendrina Khan, the wife of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, on Thursday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) with a letter disputing government’s claim that her husband was not under detention.

The letter said that the deputy attorney-general Raja Abdur Rehman through ‘his incorrect statement’ had hurt the sentiments of the entire family as her husband had been in solitary confinement for four and a half years,” said the letter which IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam treated as a petition and fixed it for Friday.

At the last hearing, the DAG had informed the court that Dr Khan was not under any detention and was being provided all facilities.

The court also served notice on the DAG for making incorrect statement about Dr Khan’s detention while taking up a habeas corpus petition of Advocate M Javed Iqbal Jafferi.

In her letter, Ms Khan said that her husband was innocent and had not committed any offence, but no visitor was being allowed to meet him which was against the spirit of justice.

The security arrangements at her house were also a farce to befool the public, the letter said, adding that the family was not allowed even to use the telephone while all post, internet and phone calls were either being bugged or censored.

It said even the bedroom was not safe as surveillance equipments had been installed there.

“Dr Khan is not allowed even to offer prayers in the mosque which is unfair,” it said.

Meanwhile, petitioner Iqbal Javed Jafferi pleaded before the court that despite earlier directions the government had not provided the list of people who wanted to meet Dr Khan, whose health had deteriorated substantially during the years of agony, angst and trial.

He requested the court to initiate criminal proceedings against the DAG for obstructing justice.

After hearing the arguments, the IHC issued notice to the DAG for July 15 and also asked Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum to appear in person and assist the court because of sensitivity of the matter.

On the previous hearing, the court had directed the federal government to file a concise statement to clarify its stance over the detention of Dr Khan.