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The former head of Pakistan's nuclear research programme, who is also an outspoken supporter of Islamic radicals, has been arrested in Pakistan and placed in "protective custody", the government said today.
Sultan Bashiru-Din Mehmood was arrested yesterday by Pakistani intelligence officials in the eastern city of Lahore.
"We don't know on what charges," his son Asim Mehmood said.
Relatives said that he had been working recently on projects in Afghanistan, including land development, educational reform and food programmes.
The authorities would not say why Mr Mehmood, who was project director of Pakistan's nuclear program prior to his retirement last year, was arrested.
He was a known supporter of Afghanistan's Taliban regime and had links to other hardline Islamic groups in Pakistan.
Mehmood addressed a gathering of intellectuals last week, calling for a halt to the US bombing and negotiations with the Taliban.
He was detained with another scientist from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Abdul Majid.
Pakistan is, like its neighbour and arch rival India, a nuclear power armed with atomic weapons.
Islamic militants have held mass
demonstrations in Pakistan since October 7, in protest at the US bombardment
of Afghanistan and the Pakistani government's decision to provide logistical
support to US forces, open its air space to the bombers and share intelligence
information.
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