The NGO scandal heavily disturbed his image and also his private life. Even though he cooperated with intelligence agencies in hope of being released, and went back to PAEC; he was declined any partial freedom. He was harshly interrogated for a long time, which also resulted in his death. Bashir Syed, former President of the Association of Pakistani Scientists and Engineers of North America (APSENA), said: "I know both of these persons and can tell you there is not an iota of truth that both these respected scientists and friends will do anything to harm the interest of their own country."