Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A Q Khan, under house arrest for the past four years, on Tuesday claimed he was being "persecuted for the sake of one man", an apparent reference to President Pervez Musharraf [Images].

Khan, who had confessed in 2004 to passing on nuclear technology and equipment to North Korea, Iran and Libya, said he wanted to be free to meet his relatives and to travel within the country.

Khan, the architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme who was pardoned by Musharraf after his confession but placed under house arrest, said he was "being persecuted for the sake of one man." He did not elaborate.

If he was freed, it should be the responsibility of the Pakistan Army to protect him, Khan told Dawn News channel, which did not air any footage of the ailing scientist but said its correspondent had spoken to him.

Khan also said he wanted to be free to meet relatives and to travel within the country.

Asked about the mounting pressure on Pakistan to hand him over to the International Atomic Energy Agency for questioning, he said no one could take him away from the country.

The scientist welcomed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's comments hinting at the lifting of restrictions on his movements and said he had many expectations from the new government.

Khan said his movements continue to be restricted and only family members and close relatives are allowed to meet him.

He said opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had recently met him.

He also said Pakistan's nuclear weapons and assets were absolutely safe and secure and no one could take them away.

The nuclear weapons were a guarantee of peace for Pakistan, he said.

Khan's interview with the news channel came amidst reports that authorities had barred his family from allowing him to interact with the media following the scientist's interview with a foreign news agency on Monday.