ISLAMABAD, May 12: The government has barred family members of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from visiting him, sources close to the nuclear scientist told Dawn on Friday.

The sources said that Dr Khan’s daughter, Ms Aysha Khan, was the only member in his family who had permission to see her father in what the government called ‘protective custody’. New orders have withdrawn that facility, the sources added.

Inter-Service Public Relations director-general Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan confirmed that Ms Khan had been stopped from visiting her father.

“She has been stopped for the time being for security reasons,” he said.

About the possibility of shifting Dr Khan to a ‘safe house’, Gen Sultan said it was a baseless allegation that the scientist was being sent to any such place.

Other sources, however, said that a safe house was being established in Dr Khan’s guest house located within the periphery of his residence.

Dr Khan was taken into custody on Jan 31, 2004 under the Security Act of Pakistan 1952 for allegedly transferring nuclear technology and centrifuges to foreign countries.

According to sources, maximum detention under the Security Act of Pakistan was two years. Dr Khan has been continuing under custody for two years and three months.

The foreign office recently announced that the government had closed the chapter of Dr Khan. However, he has not been released.

The sources said that Dr Khan, who turned 71 on April 1, was suffering from high blood pressure, cervical spondylosis, hernia, dental ailment and heart problems.

A senior official of the Khan Research Laboratories, Dr Farooq was detained in Nov 2003. Some of his other colleagues, Dr Nazir, Dr Mansoor, Brig (retd) Sajawal, Brig (retd) Tajwar and Maj (retd) Islam, were held on Jan 17, 2004 for debriefing.