Monday, February 7 2005 20:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (Feb 7, 2005) termed as "incorrect" and "unrealistic" a report in the 'Time' magazine that the US is investigating whether the disgraced scientist A Q Khan sold nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries but said it has not closed the probe against proliferators.

"The Time has distorted the facts and made them sensational. There is no reality in the report and it is not based on facts," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Geo television.

Rashid also denied the magazine charge that some cylinders of uranium hexafluride gas have disappeared from Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL).

"We have checked all the records and no cylinder is missing from the KRL. We are ready to remove apprehensions if there are any," he said adding Khan has admitted to provide information to three countries but the Time story about selling technology to Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries is "incorrect".

"We have solved Dr Qadeer Khan's issue and he will not be handed over to any country," Rashid said. He said there is no pressure on Pakistan on the issue and Pakistan is in touch with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Reacting to the Time story, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told reporters that the story is a "rehash of several past stories".

Denying any cylinders are missing, he said, "Our inventory is complete and this is a misinformation campaign.

"Pakistan has not closed its investigations against proliferators. If new fresh leads emerge we would like to check them out," he said.