LAHORE, Feb 8: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Thursday dismissed a petition challenging the detention of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

The petitioner, Pakistan Institute of Human Rights, had submitted that Dr Khan had been in detention for more than two years without any justification.

Claiming that Dr Khan had been detained to please the US, the petitioner had submitted that the allegations against him were baseless and frivolous.

The petitioner pointed out that the scientist had been suffering from various diseases as a result of which he was unable to perform meaningful research work. It had also apprehended that he was being slow poisoned.

The petitioner had prayed that Dr Khan should be produced before the court to set at liberty, and President Musharraf should seek pardon from the scientist and the whole nation. —Staff Reporter