By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistan's government has eased restrictions on scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan who has been under virtual house arrest since 2004 for running an international nuclear proliferation smuggling network, officials said Monday.
Khan, 71, is now allowed to meet his friends and relatives at his home and he can also travel elsewhere to see them, Urdu newspaper Nawa-e-Waqt cited an official as saying.
"Recently Khan invited his friends for a lunch at his residence," he said adding that there were no charges against Khan since President Pervez Musharraf pardoned him in February 2004 after he made a televised apology to the nation.
Khan is permitted to go to his favourite restaurants in Islamabad, and visit hill resorts Bhurban and Murree, the official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity.
However, he would not be allowed to talk to the media.
Khan reportedly supplied centrifuges and other restricted material to North Korea, Iran and Libya over the years as head of the country's nuclear programme.
The US Central Intelligence Agency informed Pakistan of his nuclear smuggling activities in late 2003.
Khan is still highly revered in Pakistan for developing the country's nuclear deterrent against its larger neighbour India.
The nuclear scientist is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.