Islamabad, August 12:

Pakistani police have detained the son-in-law of disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan in connection with an assault on two British diplomats, police and officials said today.

Businessman Saad Ali Khan is being held in police custody after the Britons — a woman and a man — were attacked early on Sunday near the atomic expert’s home in an exclusive area of Islamabad, they said. “Saad Ali Khan is in police custody. A case of beating, intimidation and threats has been registered,” a Pakistani police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The British High Commission (embassy) here said the two victims required medical treatment after the “vicious and unprovoked attack”. “I can confirm that two members of British diplomatic staff were attacked on Sunday in a residential area of Islamabad,” said spokesman Simon Smart.