Scientist's son-in-law held over attack on British diplomats

Saad Ali Khan was accused of assaulting the two diplomats in a residential area of the capital Islamabad, said police spokesman Manzoor Elahi. He refused to give any other details.

The identities and conditions of the two diplomats were not revealed.

Simon Smart, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Islamabad, confirmed the incident but also would not provide further information.

The assault occurred early yesterday after the two Britons attended a function at the United Nations club, Pakistan's English-language newspaper The News reported.

Abdul Qadeer Khan, 69 - long revered as a national hero for his key role in making Pakistan a nuclear power - has been living under house arrest since February 2004 after he confessed to spreading sensitive nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea without government authorisation.

President Pervez Musharraf pardoned him, however, because of his previous services to the nation.