Islamabad, Apr. 8: Several members of the Pakistan Senate have raised strong objections to two private television channels villifying top nuclear scientist Dr. A Q Khan, and have demanded a debate on the issue in the Senate.

Submitting an adjournment motion to the Senate Secretariat, at least three Senators used Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 1988 to call for an inquiry into what they termed was a blatant case of character assassination.

Senators Khurshid Ahmed, Saadia Abbasi and Rahat Hussain were quoted by the Daily Times as saying that the "vicious campaign of character-assassination is indeed deplorable and needs to be condemned in so uncertain terms, and must be curtailed forthwith."

Hailing Dr. Khan's contributions towards strengthening the country's defence, they said it was a hard fact that the people of Pakistan revered him and the other members of his team.

"The government must take notice of such broadcasts that cast aspersions on the role of Pakistan as a responsible actor in international politics. There is a fine line between freedom of expression and the need to preserve the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and that threshold must not be crossed," the motion said.

It further said that there were certain areas of Pakistan's national security that needed to be treated with utmost care and circumspection. They were of the view that the contents of the programmes broadcast by the two channels were highly derogatory and defamatory with reference to Dr Khan and he had no opportunity to present his case. (ANI)