ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: The government on Monday dismissed a newspaper report that the UN nuclear agency wanted to grill two former prime ministers about the leaking of nuclear information to Iran.

The foreign ministry reiterated that a “very small number” of Pakistani nuclear scientists were being investigated about the allegations.

But Pakistan had no information that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wanted to question former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters during his weekly briefing.

Mr Khan said no foreign agency was questioning the Pakistan scientists that were being “debriefed” about the allegations.

“The debriefing sessions are continuing, what we need here is patience,” he said.

Mr Khan said Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had also been questioned but denied his movements were restricted.

“When the government of Iran shared some information with us and subsequently the International Atomic Energy Agency asked for our cooperation, we started these debriefing sessions,” he said.

Mr Khan said “there is no witch-hunt” going on in the country and the scientists were cooperating.—AFP