KARACHI: Investigators probing the nuclear imbroglio have determined that at least two scientists acted inappropriately and exchanged information with Iran beyond the limit authorised to them by the government in late 1980s, according to senior officials.

Officials said in 1987 former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq had approved a longstanding request from the Iranian government for an unpublicised cooperation in peaceful nuclear programme. But Zia had specifically limited Pak-Iran nuclear technology to non-military spheres.

"Just before his death in 1988 when I told Zia about Iran’s growing interest in non-peaceful nuclear matters, he asked me to play around but not to yield anything substantial at any cost," said a top retired nuclear scientist, who asked not to be identified.

The scientist said he was aware that the Iranians were intensely pursuing the matter with General Aslam Beg, Zia’s successor, but did not know how Beg responded to the Iranian request because by that time he was not directly associated with the programme.

Pakistan had launched scores of military officials serving the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Strategic Planning and Division that controls the Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) in the third week of November to retrace the alleged doubtful activities of some scientists, with focus on events that took place in late 1980s and early 1990s.

This probe stemmed from specific observation made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a two-page letter to the government after inspection of Iranian nuclear facilities by its inspector in November last year.

"Whether the findings are made public or not the recent investigation has completely altered Dr A Q Khan’s profile in the government’s record," said a knowledgeable official who added: "Sometimes national heroes have no hesitation in exceeding limits."

A senior official familiar with the probe has said disciplinary and legal action is being recommended against Dr Mohammad Farooq, a senior scientist with KRL. President Pervez Musharraf, on his return from Davos next week, will decide the future course of action to address Dr A Q Khan’s role in the whole affair.

"A legal examination of the probe is underway, but it seems that Dr Farooq will be charged for violating the Official Secret Act," the official said. "Dr A Q Khan was questioned in view of Dr Farooq’s statement and his answers are being verified."

In late eighties and early nineties Dr Farooq, as an important confidante of Dr Khan, was associated with nuclear centrifuge technology at the KRL, officials said.

Farooq was the first Pakistani nuclear scientist to be detained in Islamabad on November 27 following the IAEA letter and an intimation from the Iranian government that identified Farooq as one of the Pakistani contacts for its nuclear scientists, officials said.

Officials said the government’s priority at the moment is to ensure the IAEA that Pakistan not only followed its observation most seriously, it is also penalising the scientists who acted beyond the call of their duties.

The IAEA will be issuing its "Iran Report" next month. There is a general recognition in the national security community that failure to satisfy the IAEA could seriously endanger Pakistan’s status as a responsible nuclear state.

Officials said three of the closest confidantes of Dr Khan are currently being questioned to what one official said "scan the whole range of Dr A Q Khan’s activities in the past 15 years or so".

"In Pakistan we have investigated and prosecuted prime ministers and military chiefs, so there shouldn’t be any uproar against investigation of an international charge-sheet against nuclear scientists," remarked an official.

Military investigators are currently questioning Dr Nazir Ahmad, director general of KRL. He was the most trusted A Q Khan lieutenant at the KRL till Musharraf replaced Dr Khan with Dr Javed Mirza as head of the KRL in 2001.

"Nazir is providing a blow by blow inside account of the KRL affairs under Khan," an official said. Though Nazir is not currently involved in the KRL affairs, being an all-time associate of Khan he is still serving Dr Khan, who is an advisor to the prime minister on scientific affairs.

"Having served Khan as his personal assistant for more than a decade, Major Islamul Haq is giving investigators a graphic account on Khan’s official and personal affairs and contacts." Major Haq was detained last week from Khan’s residence in Islamabad.

The official said Brigadier Sajawal, responsible for construction and engineering activities at the KRL, is being debriefed about the process for awarding contract and cooperation with foreign contractors.

Similarly Brigadier Tajwar is being debriefed about the security situation at the KRL as it appeared that a few scientists were allowed to by-pass the strict security guidelines approved for the KRL.

Officials said detention of Dr Nazir, Brigadier Tajwar , Brigadier Sajawal and Major Haq showed that the government is not just probing the "Iran saga". Officials said from the day one of this investigation, President Musharraf wanted complete overhauling of personnel and technical affairs of the KRL.

Officials said since they now have a fairly good idea of the levels of nuclear knowledge transferred to Iran by two scientists they need not to probe the "Beg angle".

"I don’t know about the exact nature of transfer of technology that took place but I knew that nothing moves in Pakistani nuclear spectrum without the knowledge of the chief of army staff," said a former Pakistani nuclear scientist, who questioned Beg’s press statements, saying while he was the COAS the decision making about nuclear programme was with the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and later with Nawaz Sharif.

Officials, though do not discount Beg’s influence and knowledge about the nuclear exchange that took place between some Pakistani and Iranian nuclear scientists in 1989-90, said equally important voice in the nuclear matters during that period was that of Ghulam Ishaq Khan, former president.

"If A Q Khan is the father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb, Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the grandfather," said a senior official echoing the notion expressed by knowledgeable nuclear scientists.

"From 1982 to 1993 Ishaq held the wallet for the nuclear programme," said a retired nuclear scientist. Ishaq first arranged the finances of the nuclear programme as Zia’s finance minister. He controlled that unique position as the chairman Senate (1985-88) and as president (1988-93).

"Strategic decision making rests with the respective army chiefs, but Ishaq alone coordinated and controlled money matters as well as key strategic affairs," revealed a knowledgeable nuclear scientist. "A Q Khan’s most important patron in the government was Ishaq Khan."

The 83-year old Ishaq Khan, who resigned as the president after losing majority in the parliament in 1993, currently lives in his hometown in Peshawar where his relatives described him as "seriously ill".

In the present circumstances, several Pakistani officials said President Musharraf’s current priority is to contain the crisis and ensure that such vital pilferage doesn’t tale place in the future.

"Any trial of the nuclear scientist, particularly, any gesture of public disgrace for A Q Khan from the government will open a Pandora box," a ranking official said. "Bygone is bygone, let’s move forward, this is what the president believes in these crucial moments."

President Musharraf, however, has made no personal attempt to hide the fact that greed and personal motivation of a few nuclear scientists caused the IAEA’s Pakistan-related observations. In at least three large meetings with parliamentarians and ministers over the past few weeks, the president lamented the role of a few unnamed scientists and expressed determination to take them to task.