Pakistan's nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and his wife have filed an application with the Islamabad [Images] high court requesting that they may be allowed to appear in person to pursue their petitions.

The new petition came almost three months after the four-year old restrictions on the detained nuclear scientist were relaxed in July and he was allowed to meet his close relatives and friends anywhere in Pakistan.

However, the Islamabad high court verdict failed to bring any relief for the scientist and he remained under house arrest.

Khan has been detained at his sprawling residence here since late 2003 after the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed his involvement in proliferating nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

The latest application filed by barrister M Javed Iqbal Jafferi on behalf of Dr Khan and his wife Mrs Hendrina Khan, contended that the IHC orders relaxing restrictions on the movement of Dr Khan were not being implemented by the authorities concerned.