ISLAMABAD: A bench of Islamabad High Court on Friday declared Dr Abdul Qadeer as a free citizen of the country and ordered for removing all restrictions on his free movement. Dr Abdul Qadeer wants to spend his time in the research work, the scientists’ counsel Barrister Ali Zafar told media after the court decision.

The court also ordered VIP security for Qadeer and said that he can meet his relatives and friends without restrictions. Chief Justice Mr. Justice Sardar Mohammed Aslam heard the arguments of Dr Qadeer’s counsel Barrister Ali Zafar over a petition challenging detention of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Commenting on his release Nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan said the court decision is pleasant and expressed satisfaction with the Islamabad High Court judgment.

“I am satisfied with the Islamabad High Court verdict. Hopefully the detailed judgment will also be in my favor like the brief decision, “I will not sue anyone for my detention.”

Qadeer said he was satisfied with the official security provided to him adding, when the entire world was against me Pakistan had provided me security and there is no safer place for me than Pakistan.” He said working for the welfare organizations will be his foremost priority. He said he will need government permission to go abroad and expressed his intention to perform Umra. “Firstly I will visit my ailing brother in Karachi.” He also thanked the people and the media and said that the people’s prayers and love made the difficult time easier for him.

Foreign Office spokesman said that the Court’s decision is explicit and does not require any comments and added the Government will provide all requisite security to Dr. A.Q. Khan. He stated this in response to a question regarding Islamabad High Court’s order declaring A.Q. Khan a free man on Friday.

He said that the so called A.Q. Khan affair is a closed chapter, adding that it is counter productive to speculate on the Court’s judgment. “As a responsible nuclear State, Pakistan took all necessary measures to promote the goals of non-proliferation, it also extended its fullest cooperation to the international community” he noted.