LAHORE, Nov 19: Prof Dr Amir Aziz Khan was released on Tuesday morning after a month-long detention on charges of having links with the Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership.

His brother Imran Aziz told Dawn that some “unknown officials” had dropped him at his house at Officers Colony in Cantonment at 4:30am.

“Amir seemed to be tired as his eyes had swollen and he went to sleep soon after he reached home,” said Imran when this reporter talked to him by phone in the morning.

Following his release, the Lahore High Court disposed of a writ petition filed by his mother.

When newsmen visited his house, the noted orthopaedic surgeon, supporting his mother on a wheel-chair, appeared in a relaxed mood.

“I have been in the custody of Pakistani intelligence agencies in Islamabad where the FBI and CIA officials question me,” he added, denying reports that he was taken somewhere abroad for investigation.

Clad in white shalwar-kameez, the surgeon said no body tortured him physically or mentally. “They just questioned me extensively.”

Referring to allegations against him, Mr Aziz said the investigators had charged him with supporting the Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership in making chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.

“The investigators also accused me of having close links with the Al Qaeda and Taliban top leadership. The questioning revolved around knowing the designs and plans of Al Qaeda.”

Aziz said now he had been cleared of all charges by the grace of God.

Referring to the reports about the treatment of people like Osama bin Laden and Mulla Omar, the doctor strongly denied to having treated any such personality.

However, he said  he  always   treated patients without discrimination of faith, religion, cast, colour or race, which, he stressed, he would continue to do as part of his professional duties.

About  his  visits to Afghanistan, the surgeon said  he  never went  there after 9/11 attacks in America. However, he  said he started  visiting  Afghanistan in 1979 when the whole world  was supporting  Afghans against the Soviet Union.

Related report on Page 12