LAHORE: Calling for immediate release, Rana Muhammad Sharif, father of detained nuclear scientist, Dr Nazir Ahmed, on Sunday said his son was arrested for relations with Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Talking to journalists at his residence, Rana Sharif said that previous government had honoured Dr Nazir with Sitara-e-Imtiaz, for his supreme national services and patriotism and if the present government did not give respect to the nuclear scientists and continued to humiliate him, they would surrender the Sitara-e-Imtiaz medal.

He added that he was a poor carpenter, his son (Dr Nazir) got education in meagre condition even Dr Nazir used to go school and college on foot. After that he left Pakistan for further studies in Germany and England and later on he also visited America prior to join Kahuta Research Laboratories in 1985.

He said that Dr Nazir was religious-minded, patriotic, and honest and had no lust to accumulate money so how he could accept government’s allegations levelled against his son for betraying the country. "If my son stole national secrets and sold out to other countries, why he did not run away from the country and why he was still staying in Pakistan while he have so many opportunities to work in other countries?" he questioned. On this occasion mother and sister appealed the government to release Dr Nazir with full honour and respect before Eid-ul-Azha.