Pakistan Frees 'father' of Nuclear Bomb After Five-year House Arrest

Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist accused of selling nuclear secrets, was freed after five years of house arrest in a high court ruling yesterday.

Khan, lionised as the "father" of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, confessed in 2004 to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. He was immediately pardoned but detained in his home.

In an interview with the Guardian after yesterday's court ruling, the metallurgist said he had no plans to travel abroad or engage in domestic politics. Looking relaxed and well, the 72-year-old strolled in the front garden of his villa in Islamabad, playing with a pet dog and receiving well wishers. "It's a nice feeling, the worry is gone. I can lead a normal life now as a normal citizen. It's a fine feeling," he later said by telephone.

Khan was detained in early 2004 after making a televised confession to nuclear proliferation. His nuclear trading network had been discovered by western intelligence agents. A national hero in Pakistan for spearheading the country's nuclear weapons program, he subsequently retracted the confession.

Khan went to court over his house arrest, arguing he had not been convicted of any crime. Under the previous regime of Pervez Musharraf he had little chance of a successful challenge, but the civilian government has been pushing to have him freed. Khan's lawyer, Ali Zafar, said yesterday: "The court has said as he was not involved in nuclear proliferation or criminal activity, there is no case against him, therefore he is a free citizen."

Last year a United Nations nuclear watchdog said Khan's network had been active in 12 countries. Last month the US state department imposed sanctions on 13 individuals - two of them British - and three companies for involvement in Khan's network.

Pakistan has not let foreign investigators question Khan, insisting it has passed on all relevant information about nuclear proliferation. That bar is likely to remain.

Khan remained under personal guard yesterday but it was unclear what his security arrangements would be in future.