Islamabad: Two Pakistani scientists at the country's top nuclear laboratory, suspected to have links with Iranian nuclear programme, have been detained for questioning, media in Islamabad reported today (Dec 11 2003).

Laboratory director of Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) Farooq Ahmad was nabbed on Sunday from his residence by security agencies, who were accompanied by "foreigners", local daily 'The Nation' reported.

Since then Ahmad has not returned home, it said, adding his arrest, followed detention of KRL director general Yasin Chohan, who was close to Dr A Q Khan, considered father of Pakistan's nuclear programme. Dr Khan was made to retire in 2001 by President Pervez Musharraf and since then he worked as presidential advisor on scientific affairs.

The paper said the two detained scientists were suspected to have links with Iranian nuclear programme.

"My father is on leave from KRL and since Sunday he is in Karachi," Asim, son of Ahmad, told the paper.

Asim, however, could not explain why Ahmad has been staying in Karachi and what was his contact number. He contradicted reports of his father's arrest saying he spoke to him two days back by telephone.

Pakistani Government while indirectly acknowledging the detention of the scientists, described allegations of any direct cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran on the nuclear front as "baseless and malicious".

PTI