Pakistan will not free doctor who helped U.S. find bin Laden

[Zarvan]

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will be neither released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan's law minister has told legislators, media reported on Wednesday.

Dr. Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by U.S. officials, was arrested after U.S. forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low.

Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden's identity.

Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied.

"The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial," the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker's query about reports of a possible release.

"Afridi worked against the law and our national interest, and the Pakistan government has repeatedly been telling the United States that under our law he committed a crime and was facing the law."

In 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of being a member of militant group Lashkar-e-Islam.

That conviction was overturned in 2013, but Afridi was then charged with murder, relating to the death of a patient eight years earlier. He remains in jail awaiting trial.

Many Pakistanis were infuriated by the U.S. raid to grab bin Laden in the military garrison town of Abbottabad, just a two-hour drive from Islamabad, the capital.

Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him.

Last May, Pakistan's foreign ministry angrily criticised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for saying he could get Pakistan to free Afridi "within two minutes".

Pakistan joined the U.S. war on militancy after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/180062-Pakistan-will-not-free-doctor-who-helped-US-find-bin-Laden

 

[Men in Green]

He should be realesed he helped to kill terrorist. who killed many inocent lifes arround the world.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

He should be made an example... it will create a deterrance to all those willing to work for foriegn intel agencies.

 

[Hassan Guy]

LOL, you work for the foreigners against this country?

Your bond will continue to be violated in prison.

 

[H!TchHiker]

He is traitor and should be hanged ASAP. Anybody working for foreign intelligence is traitor..

 

[hunter_hunted]

He somewhat looks like trump , was he lost in kumbh ka mela

 

[VCheng]

"The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial,"

That is commendable. At least he has not disappeared. Let the law give him due process. Good.

 

[my2cents]

He should be realesed he helped to kill terrorist. who killed many inocent lifes arround the world.

Why doesn't a common person understand that logic is beyond me??

 

[YeBeWarned]

Did't care what part he played in Killing the bin laden ( if he was there anyway ) but the amount of Damage he and his mission did to the Polio Campaign, i will say if not a Death sentence a life time in prison is a fair deal for him ..

 

[Skyliner]

Declear him dead in prison, and let him rot in prison and close this chapter once n for all.

 

[Zarvan]

He should be realesed he helped to kill terrorist. who killed many inocent lifes arround the world.

If Israelis kill a most wanted man on USA soil which is also wanted by USA and Israelis do it with local help than all those who helped that in that operation would end up in Jail in USA.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him.

Loool

 

[monitor]

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will be neither released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan's law minister has told legislators, media reported on Wednesday.

Dr. Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by U.S. officials, was arrested after U.S. forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low.

Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden's identity.

Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied.

"The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial," the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker's query about reports of a possible release.

"Afridi worked against the law and our national interest, and the Pakistan government has repeatedly been telling the United States that under our law he committed a crime and was facing the law."

In 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of being a member of militant group Lashkar-e-Islam.

That conviction was overturned in 2013, but Afridi was then charged with murder, relating to the death of a patient eight years earlier. He remains in jail awaiting trial.

Many Pakistanis were infuriated by the U.S. raid to grab bin Laden in the military garrison town of Abbottabad, just a two-hour drive from Islamabad, the capital.

Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him.

Last May, Pakistan's foreign ministry angrily criticised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for saying he could get Pakistan to free Afridi "within two minutes".

Pakistan joined the U.S. war on militancy after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/180062-Pakistan-will-not-free-doctor-who-helped-US-find-bin-Laden

If you free Him you can expect to get more F-16 and military aid along with V upgrade for existing F-16. Without any barters Pakistan might face trouble for more military support.

 

[Men in Green]

If Israelis kill a most wanted man on USA soil which is also wanted by USA and Israelis do it with local help than all those who helped that in that operation would end up in Jail in USA.

They dont need to bcz USA will kill him.. if biladin was most wanted in pakistan then why he was not killed/arrested ..what was he doing near Army dominated area was he there for picnic why agenices had no clue he was there. where was ISI THE GREAT AGENCY..

 

[schoolboy]

If Israelis kill a most wanted man on USA soil which is also wanted by USA and Israelis do it with local help than all those who helped that in that operation would end up in Jail in USA.

Nope. As an informant / government-aide he'd likely not be charged or be given a slap on the wrist. Putting him on trial would not only set the stage for an embarrassment if he was acquitted (as Afridi has been) but would also deter other informants from cooperating with law-enforcement in future.

Till I read OP I did not know he was acquitted of the main charge but now pending trial in some medical-negligence case. What a joke - has anyone ever been convicted in Pakistan for death resulting from medical practice - and that too abfter eight years.

Maybe he will be charged with ticketless travel if he wins this case as well.