I was forced to agree on disposal of habeas corpus plea, reveals A.Q. Khan.

Byline: Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD -- Former nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan claimed before the Supreme Court on Thursday that he was forced to sign his consent in an earlier habeas corpus petition as a result of which the Islamabad High Court had disposed of that petition on Feb 6, 2009.

Submitted to the Supreme Court through his counsel Taufiq Asif and Sheikh Ehsanuddin, a hand-written letter by Dr Khan claimed that the earlier consent letter was not of his free will.

A two-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Yahya Afridi issued notices to the Strategic Planning Division (SPD) and Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan, asking them to come up with a proper response on the maintainability of Dr Khan's appeal.

The apex court had taken up Dr Khan's appeal seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights, including free movement. The appeal was filed against the Sept 25, 2019 Lahore High Court judgement which had rejected Dr Khan's plea on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction in view of special security measures adopted by the state.

On Feb 6, 2009, the IHC had decided the habeas corpus petition, declaring that the petitioner was a free citizen and the petition was disposed of in terms of Annexure-A, the contents of which were not to be issued to the press or made public in any manner as requested by both sides.

SC issues notices to the Strategic Planning Division, AGP

On Thursday, the AG objected to the language of the letter in which Dr Khan said he did not expect any legal remedy from the IHC.

Justice Afridi observed that Dr Khan should chose either to institute a fresh petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution before the Supreme Court or approach the IHC with a new petition after withdrawing the present petition from the apex court.

Justice Afridi, however, observed that as a judge he could not tolerate demeaning any high court and would discourage the tendency of approaching a different high court after getting a decision from another.

When the hearing commenced, Advocate Asif told the court that in line with an earlier directive of the apex court, his meeting with Dr Khan had been arranged on Wednesday at the latter's residence during which he had been given a hand-written two-page letter.

In his letter, Dr Khan claimed that he was also forced by certain officials to withdraw the present petition from the apex court and again go to the IHC.

The letter requested the apex court to safeguard his...

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