Wednesday, June 21 2006 18:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Voicing concern over the US reopening investigations into the proliferation network of disgraced Pakistan nuclear scientist A Q Khan, President Pervez Musharraf has said he would not permit any direct questioning of the scientist.

"It is a matter of concern that A.Q Khan chapter is opened every now and then," he said referring to the probe by the US Congress Sub Committee into Khan's nuclear network after Islamabad declared it has closed the chapter of investigations.

While dismissing demands for handing over Khan for questioning to any foreign country, the Pakistan President also gave a clean chit to the detained nuclear scientist over allegations that he added Syrian nuclear programme in addition to that of Iran, Libya and North Korea.

"As far as our investigations are concerned, we have found no evidence about A Q Khan's involvement in Syrian nuclear programme, no it is not true," he said.

"We are not allowing any direct access to any foreign agent to A Q Khan, our own investigators are competent enough to conduct inquiries. They should tell us what is the problem and we will investiagte it. I take it as insult that Pakistan cannot do the job. What it implies is that we don't have capability and we are not telling the truth," he said.

He also said that Pakistan is concerned over the tensions building between Iran and United States over Tehran's nuclear programme for which Khan has admitted assisting in the past.