ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s family is again worried about the disgraced nuclear scientist’s health.

Family sources told Dawn on Friday that the anti-biotics administered to him during the treatment of his prostate cancer had thickened his blood “to an extent that could be characterised as dangerous”.

Dr Khan, who returned to his virtual confinement in Islamabad early this month after surgery and a period of recuperation in Karachi, was taken to KRL Hospital on Eid day for a check up. There the doctors “found his blood thick to an abnormal level”, according to the family.

Asked for his comments, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Chief Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan merely assured that Dr Qadeer was being provided constant medical care and medical checkups were conducted whenever needed.

“Whenever there is something unusual, we will let the media know,” he said.

The government had announced on August 22 that the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme was suffering from prostate cancer. Tests revealed slightly raised level of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). After detailed tests, he was taken to Karachi where he was operated upon at the Aga Khan Hospital.

Dr Khan, 66, had been appointed adviser to the government after he had retired as the head of the Khan Research Laboratories in March 2001.

On Feb 5, 2004, Gen Musharraf had announced to pardon Dr Khan.

In early 2004, former information minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad had claimed that investigations against Dr Khan had been conducted on the basis of a letter written to the Pakistan government by the IAEA.