ISLAMABAD, June 19: Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan underwent angioplasty during his two-day stay at the Armed Forces’ Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) this week, a source close to the scientist said on Sunday.

The source said Dr Khan had not suffered a heart attack but he had lost weight.

A family doctor of Dr Khan said the scientist had been taken to the AFIC for angiography after he complained of chest pain on Thursday.

He said angiography was carried out to ascertain the condition of heart and its function of blood pumping, whereas angioplasty was done out in case of a heart attack and to clear chocked or blocked blood vessels.

The doctor said the scientist had not suffered a heart attack but angioplasty was done as a precautionary measure. “Two stents (kind of small tubes) were inserted into the blood vessels of Dr Khan’s heart to keep them open and smooth supply of blood,” he said.

The doctor said in some cases three stents were inserted into vessels, but the condition of Dr Khan was not so bad as to insert three stents.

“Although Dr Khan has become weak, he is in good health and the family is happy and satisfied,” the family doctor said.