ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The federal government on Wednesday refused to place before the court the information and materials on the basis of which six officials of the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) were detained.

The federal government, at the seventh hearing of the habeas corpus petitions moved by relatives of six retired and serving officials of the KRL, stated: "The federation claims privilege in respect of all materials and information on which the order of the detention is passed."

On the last hearing on Feb 9 the federal government had stated that the government was ready to disclose all sensitive details about the N-proliferation controversy before the court, provided the hearing was conducted in camera. The court, however, had insisted that it should first file the written statement.

The government on Wednesday said that the KRL officials were detained under the Security of Pakistan Act 1952 as they were engaged in nuclear proliferation and were responsible for, inter alia, directly and indirectly passing on to foreign countries and individuals secret codes, nuclear materials, substances, machinery, equipment components, information, documents, sketches, plans, models, articles and notes entrusted them in their official capacity.

The government said it was satisfied that the detention of the six accused was necessary with a view to preventing them from carrying on such activities in a manner prejudicial to the security of the country.

The government stated that at present it was not in the national interests to disclose anything more than what had been already stated. It said the matter related to the nuclear programme and disclosures at this stage would have serious consequences for the defence, security and external relations of Pakistan.

It stated that the Constitution provided an adequate alternate remedy to detenues to make their respective representations to the federal government and petition under Article 199 was not maintainable.

The government also stated that the detention of the detenues was in accordance with Article 10 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The bench consisted of Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Justice Mansoor Ahmad of LHC, Rawalpindi Bench.

The court adjourned the case till Feb 17 to allow the petitioners' counsel to file rejoinders.

Those who have approached the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court for their release are: Dr Mohammad Farooq, Director of KRL; Dr Nazeer Ahmad, Chief Engineer of Metallurgy Department, KRL; Brig (Retd) Sajawal Khan, retired director-general of KRL; Dr Naseemuddin, currently head of Missile Manufacturing, KRL, Kahuta; Brig (retd) Mohammad Iqbal Tajwar, former Director-General of Security, KRL, Kahuta, and Maj (retd) Islamul Haq, Principal Staff Officer of Dr A.Q. Khan.