ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Questions about reports of possible links between the Pakistani and Iranian nuclear programmes were being put to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the government said on Monday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan told Reuters that questions were being put to Dr Khan in connection with “debriefings” of several scientists working at the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).

“He is too eminent a scientist to undergo a normal debriefing session,” the spokesman said. “However, some questions have been raised with him in relation to the ongoing debriefing sessions.”

The spokesman denied a report that Dr Khan had been placed under restriction as part of the investigation. “He is not under arrest, he is not under detention, he is under no restriction,” he said.

However, several intelligence sources said the scientist had not been allowed to either receive visitors at his home in Islamabad or leave it since the probe had begun last week.

“It is routine matter,” said one of the sources, who did not want to be identified. “We are debriefing every nuclear scientist, so Dr Qadeer is facing the same formality.”

One intelligence official said the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had taken part in the questioning.

Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed earlier acknowledged that “one or two scientists” were being questioned about media reports of possible links between the Pakistani and Iranian nuclear programmes.

“We are investigating,” he said. “We are questioning one or two scientists after we heard allegations through the media.”

Pakistan has persistently denied exporting nuclear technology and has specifically denied any link to the Iranian programme.