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US Congressman calls on Obama to 'personally intercede' in Dr Shakil Afridi case

Published: February 29, 2012

Rohrabacher called on the Obama to intervene directly in Dr Shakil Afridi case.

The controversial US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, has asked President Obama to “personally intercede” in Dr Shakil Afridi’s case, in response to media reports that the doctor, who helped the CIA in finding out whether Osama Bin Laden was present in the Abbotabad compound, had his assets seized by the Government of Pakistan.

In a press release issued from his office in Washington, Rep. Rohrabacher said, “Pakistan’s leaders continue to show the US they are a hardcore, two-faced enemy not worthy of the $2.2 billion dollars in foreign assistance the Obama Administration plans to give them next year. After Osama Bin Laden murdered 3,000 people in New York City the Pakistani government protected him for years and now they want to punish the man who helped reveal where he was living.”

Rep. Rohrabacher has called on the White House to not abandon Dr Afridi and that he should be given proper recognition for his “daring act”.

Rohrabacher, who is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, recently introduced a series of controversial legislation and resolution that have incensed Pakistani leaders. In February, he asked the US Government to give Dr Shakil Afridi US citizenship and to award him the Congressional Gold Medal for his services.

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Reader Comments (35)

  • Mirza
    Feb 29, 2012 - 3:34AM

    The congressman is not alone in his criticism of safe haven for OBL and jail for Dr. Afridi. He is not just a congressman, he is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. I can tell you that he would be re-elected with a big mandate. We have been demanding like a broken record that Pakistan has to come clean on OBL’s presence and safe haven. We cannot fool the whole world and continue to get their hand outs.

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  • harish
    Feb 29, 2012 - 3:55AM

    im sure a plan is being drawn up by america, india and many more countries on how to end this menace…. if pak didnt have nukes, none of this problem would be there….pakistan is too small and fragile state to be worth of holding nukes….

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  • Hussaini
    Feb 29, 2012 - 4:13AM

    how about you actually reveal whts your sickening motive behind all this drama ??

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  • Cautious
    Feb 29, 2012 - 4:53AM

    “Pakistan’s leaders continue to show
    the US they are a hardcore, two-faced
    enemy not worthy of the $2.2 billion
    dollars in foreign assistance the
    Obama Administration plans to give
    them next year. After Osama Bin Laden
    murdered 3,000 people in New York City
    the Pakistani government protected him
    for years and now they want to punish
    the man who helped reveal where he was
    living.”

    Seems like an accurate statement to me – some countries would consider hiding and abetting OBL an act of war.

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  • American
    Feb 29, 2012 - 5:15AM

    At last, some body had to say what every one knew.

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  • Amjad
    Feb 29, 2012 - 5:35AM

    People need to hear what other Americans say about Congressman Rohrbacher. He is often described as right wing extremist bordering on lunacy. He is welcome to his views but Pakistanis need to understand that this man is a lone congressman whose views carry little weight in the US.

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  • Syed Kashmiri
    Feb 29, 2012 - 6:09AM

    This shows the total failure of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy ( if there is one ).

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  • vasan
    Feb 29, 2012 - 6:32AM

    I completely agree with this senator on the recommendations of the good doc’s work

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  • Selvam
    Feb 29, 2012 - 6:44AM

    Ouch!!!

    The Truth hurts for PakMil and its hangers on.

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  • usman786
    Feb 29, 2012 - 6:49AM

    Please don’t call Dr Shakeel as Mir Jaffar. There are many who are hiding in PM house and are supporting foreign govts and firms against national interest. Eg each Baloch sardar has been promised to make chief of his semi-independent tribe’s area
    by a super power. I donot know how it helPs innocent bBalochi. The problem is money.
    Slap this aid on this senetors face. Just stop their air-corridor and give them a bamboo. They should be ordered to lay off Balochistan and write off our loans rather than going cheap. But how can this happen when some their support in coming elections.

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  • foruchandan
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:11AM

    Is there anything wrong in Rep. Dana saying… i think we should all support him in his endevor

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  • Babloo
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:13AM

    This is what

    Abdul Salam Zaeef – former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, has this to say in his book
    ‘ My life with the Taliban’
    “Pakistan, which plays a key role in Asia, is so famous for treachery that it is said they can get milk from a bull. They have two tongues in one mouth, and two faces on one head so they can speak everybody’s language; they use everybody, deceive everybody. They deceive the Arabs under the guise of Islamic nuclear power, saying that they are defending Islam and Islamic countries. They milk America and Europe in the alliance against terrorism, and they have been deceiving Pakistani and other Muslims around the world in the name of Kashmiri jihad. But behind the curtain, they have been betraying everyone.”

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  • Pragmatist
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:23AM

    Woah ! Those are highly undiplomatic words used inside congress to describe Pakistan. I think the US-Pakistan equation has changed forever. Pakistan must look to create a new dynamic with other neighbors in the region. They will have to learn to use Chinese weapons (it would be wise to carry spares and a mechanic along).

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  • Pragmatist
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:26AM

    Targeting Dr.Afridi was a bad move from the start. It presented Pakistan in a different light. You would have hoped wiser heads will prevail. They could even have made a show of awarding a medal to the doctor – even if they did not mean it.

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  • Feb 29, 2012 - 7:36AM

    This is Pakistan’s internal matter, he is a pakistani national and it is we who decide what to do with this person, u have got no right to interfere in our internal matters

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  • Ijaz Khan
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:39AM

    Oh really. Is Dana telling us we are directly subservient to US?
    The shoe is on the other foot.Guess who is hard-faced & double faced here?I can think of many other adjectives!

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  • Mohammad Inam
    Feb 29, 2012 - 7:58AM

    what do you expect from the idiot, he investigated for foreign influence in Oklahoma city bombing in 1995.

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  • ahmad
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:30AM

    ahhh, he is probably right…..

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  • Umar
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:31AM

    We Pakistanis dont know what to do. At one side we say it was drama and there was no Osama but if it is true then why Afridi is held for? And if Afridi is held rightly then why not to admit that our agencies are either blind or they provided protection to Osama.

    Oh God we are hanged between devil and deep sea.

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  • Mard-e-Haq
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:41AM

    “Pakistan’s leaders continue to show the US they are a hardcore, two-faced enemy not worthy of the $2.2 billion dollars in foreign assistance the Obama Administration plans to give them next year. After Osama Bin Laden murdered 3,000 people in New York City the Pakistani government protected him for years and now they want to punish the man who helped reveal where he was living.”

    Komando Mush himself admitted that a large chunk of US billion dollar anti-terror aid was diverted to buy up arms targeting India. Meanwhile, more than a 100 Pakistanis get blown or killed due to terror attacks within each MONTH. But don’t worry bros and sis, the US will not do anything. They need our solid support when Israel attacks Iran. Talk about fitnah.

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  • Rakesh
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:54AM

    Balochistan was one, now it is Dr Shakeel Afreedi. Dana Rohrabacher has two beating stick for Pakistan. CIA may be having more for it definitely holds key evidences from the stuffs recovered from the infamous and now demolished OBL compound. As Pakistani establishment drifts more from the US line, more such beating sticks will be unveiled. Picture abhi baaki hai doston.

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  • mfg hUSAAIN
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:57AM

    A true heroRecommend

  • zac
    Feb 29, 2012 - 8:59AM

    why are we giving importance to this man ???

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  • Travian
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:04AM

    Here come all the pakistani trolls whing and crying.

    The Congressman just said whats true. The world is completely aware of the hardcore two faced snake that Pakistan is. No wonder, pakistanis are never respected anywhere in the world.

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  • K. Salim Jahangir
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:19AM

    .Pakistan is a sovereign country & not 53rd state of the US .If Dr. Afridi & his accomplices have committed treason,they will be tried under law of the land.He is not David for whom the President of the US was made to misrepresent the facts & embarrassed before the world.One is sure that this time he will not fall prey to congressman’s desire.

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  • Amadeus
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:22AM

    Agreed.

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  • Mahmood
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:22AM

    Ironic – claiming hypocrisy by those who practice it

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  • American Desi
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:26AM

    The intention here is to inconvenience and embarrass the President in an election year and not really to help the oppressed Baloch brothers unfortunately. But I do appreciate that this muck raking is bringing the plight of Baloch to forefront. Fortunately reaction of Religious parties in Pakistan to Senator’s actions is also helping the cause of Baloch greatly by drawing international attention.

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  • Haider Hussain
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:31AM

    Call me unpatriotic or whatever you want, but US should not give $ 2.2 billion to the government. They’ll eat up 90% of this money.

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  • Bataan
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:32AM

    American nation has the right to rule the world. See to what extent they go to save the people who work in their interest. One can well imagine how important the common citizens are for the US Government. Case is opposite of this in Pakistan. We regularly disappoint our friends and the citizens hold no value in the eyes of the people who write the policies.

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  • Zahir Yousafzai
    Feb 29, 2012 - 11:15AM

    Afridi is hero. Those were traitors who gave safe heaven to OBL.

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  • faraz
    Feb 29, 2012 - 12:21PM

    Look at him – does he know how much Pakistan has suffered due to the so called “War on Terrorism” which these guys started? For last 30 years, we as a nation are suffering on all fronts, just because of the Capitalist vs Communist tug. The burden of millions of Afghan refugees, then transit support for US forces in Afghanistan has destroyed our economic and social infrastructure. At the end, we are to blame and take all the responsibility? Let’s give them something final and cut all our ties with the US, forever!!!!

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  • Zavia
    Feb 29, 2012 - 3:06PM

    Things should be managed under Law of the Land.

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  • Jadugar
    Feb 29, 2012 - 3:40PM

    Here we go again, I am expecting Navy seal to land and rescue the doctor from his captives. this time the Army is requested to act on self defence if it does happen, Don’t waste your time on TV explanations.

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  • Zalmai
    Feb 29, 2012 - 9:56PM

    @ Babloo

    The excerpt you posted has sold me on Abdul Salam Zaeef’s book.

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