Ike, Have you seen this from the Foreign Affairs thread, #8204? Do you have any comment?
Pakistan hands over three nuclear scientists to US
Islamabad, October 30: Pakistan has handed over three retired nuclear scientists accused of having links with terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden to US authorities for investigations, media reports said on Tuesday.
Among those handed over is Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, Pakistan's retired top nuclear scientist. Mahmood, along with two of his retired colleagues -former chief engineer of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Abdul Majeed, and former PAEC scientist Mirza Yousaf - have been handed over to a joint team of FBI and CIA officials for further investigations, The Pakistan Observer daily reported.
Quoting credible diplomatic and official sources, the paper said Mahmood was questioned by Pakistani intelligence agencies for alleged links with Taliban militia and Osama bin Laden. He was released on October 26 after being "cleared" by security agencies, but was again picked up from his home by security agencies on the night of October 28.
Quoting sources close to Mahmood's family, the paper said the scientist returned home in a precarious state of mental and physical health. During the time spent with his family after being released by the security agencies, Mahmood appeared nervous, conspicuously quiet and displayed signs of extreme stress, the report said.
"He did not talk much. Throughout the two and half day sat home he was constantly watched and nobody was allowed to meet him", it said. Mahmood, who was again picked up on October 28, told his family while leaving that if they did not hear from him in a few days, they must deem him dead, the paper said.
expressindia.com |
