"He is in an endangered atmosphere, his psychological condition is also not healthy," lawyer Ikram Chaudhry told AFP.

The father of Pakistan's bomb, who had been revered as a national hero, in a public confession in February admitted leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

He has been confined ever since to his plush home in one of Islamabad's most affluent streets and guarded round the clock by intelligence agents.

Chaudhry said Khan is suffering from high blood pressure, had suffered a mild stroke and had experienced a period of unconsciousness recently. He said he appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to have Khan producedin court.

"I have requested that Doctor Qadeer Khan be produced in the court to confirm his condition," Chaudhry said

The court should also constitute a medical board to examine Khan's condition, he said.

"Qadeer Khan is not satisfied with the people in the official medical team and has demanded appointment of two doctors of his choice," the lawyer said.

President Pervez Musharraf gave Khan a conditional pardon and said no goverment or military body was involved in the proliferation scandal.

Chaudhry challenged Khan's detention as illegal in a petition filed earlier this year.

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