Islamabad, Pakistan ? The father of Pakistan’s nuclear program, considered a national hero for giving the Islamic world its first atomic bomb, has been confined to the capital as investigators probe whether scientists leaked weapons technology, an acquaintance said Saturday.

Abdul Qadeer Khan has been questioned “many times” in recent weeks, said Zahid Malik, author of the book “Islamic Bomb” on Pakistan’s nuclear program.

“He’s cooperating (with the investigation) but he’s satisfied that he’s done nothing wrong,” Malik, who met with Khan on Thursday, said.

After denying for years that its scientists might have been involved in proliferation and provided technology to North Korea, Iran, Libya and Iraq, Pakistan recently acknowledged that some individuals might have leaked information for personal profit.

On Saturday, President Pervez Musharraf said the extreme secrecy surrounding the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program 30 years ago gave wide latitude to scientists — and possibly allowed them to sell information.

“Covert meant scientists moved around with full autonomy in a secretive manner,” he said, adding that the program “could succeed only if there was total autonomy and nobody knew. That is how it continued.

“Now, if there was some individual or individuals, unscrupulous, if they were for personal gain selling national assets … it was possible because it was not open, it was not under strategic check and controls. That is why it was possible,” he added.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Musharraf said his country’s investigation started after Iran disclosed to the U.N. inspection agency the names of people who provided them with nuclear technology — including Pakistani scientists.

A supporter of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan chants anti-government slogans as he holds a leaflet with Khan's photo in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan is detaining and questioning some of its top nuclear scientists on allegations of leaking technology.

Musharraf said agents were investigating whether Pakistani government officials knew of technology being leaked overseas.

The probe also includes checks into the bank accounts of scientists and authorities who have been detained in connection with the suspected information leaks, an Interior Ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Eight scientists and administrators from the Khan Research Laboratories — Pakistan’s leading nuclear weapons facility that is named after Khan — are currently being held for what the government has labeled “debriefings.”