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Bin Laden informant: Dr Shakil Afridi sentenced to 33 years
In addition to his jail sentence, he was fined Rs320,000 under the tribal justice system in Khyber district.
File photo of Dr Shakil Afridi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR: Dr Shakil Afridi, a government surgeon who helped the CIA uncover Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts, was sentenced to 33 years for treason, officials confirmed.
Afridi, who was sacked as a government doctor two months ago, was found guilty under the tribal justice system in Khyber district, part of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt.
In addition to his jail sentence, he was fined Rs320,000. The doctor had worked for years as a surgeon in lawless Khyber, part of the Taliban and al Qaeda infested tribal belt.
Afridi was not present in the court and not given a chance to defend himself, officials said. Under the tribal system, he would not have had access to a lawyer.
“He has been sentenced for 33 years on treason charges and has been moved to Peshawar central jail after the verdict was announced by the local court,” said Mohammad Siddiq, spokesman for the administrative head of Khyber.
Afridi’s trial took place over several days under assistant political agent Nasir Khan in Khyber. The verdict was confirmed by his boss, the political agent, in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Wednesday, the officials told AFP.
Under Pakistan’s tribal justice system, Afridi has the right to appeal.
Critics said Wednesday that he should not have been tried under tribal law in the tribal belt for an alleged crime that took place outside their jurisdiction.
He was sentenced under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) clauses related to offences against the state, conspiracy, or attempt to wage war against Pakistan, concealing with intent designs to wage war against the state and on charges of working against the country’s sovereignty, a Khyber administration official said.
In January, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirmed Afridi had aided US intelligence by collecting DNA to verify Bin Laden’s presence, and expressed concern about Pakistan’s treatment of him.
Seventeen other health officials, who worked on the same fake vaccination program set up by the CIA in a bid to confirm the al Qaeda chief was living in Abbottabad, have already been sacked from their government posts.
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deserve more than that
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There will be several comments here supporting this guy. While one can have serious reservations on OBL living in Abbotabad. IMHO, this guy acted against the law and was a traitor under all definitions possible. Deserved it !
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Maybe he deserved this punishement, but not for the crime of telling on OBL. In fact he committed many others during his service.
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This nut brought shame to Pakistan and its forces, regardless of them knowning about Laden or not. Instead of helping the Americans, he should have just informed Pakistani Media!
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So when are proceedings starting against those who were either incompetent or complicit in insuring that a globally renowned criminal resided in Abottabad? Oh wait!! Majority of Pakistanis believe that OBL was not killed that night!
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Was he sentenced by Al-Qaida court ? Has the killer of Punjab governor being sentenced yet ?
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This traitor should have been given hanged
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Trust me, relations with US are deteriorating, Dr Afridi’s sentence and a Lt. Col., who is head of Ex Service Men Association’s legal Arm, filed a petition against US Embassy’s new building. These both are in response to Pak Fauj’s recommendations and suggestions being snubbed and over ruled by US. They carried out a strike just one day after President zardari’s return. It says it all.
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Good…Now the secular and liberals start bashing the courts
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what a drama taking place in our country.At one hand shakeel afridi is gonna sentenced but those who were hiding OBL and those who done joined operation with navy seals are freely doing their work in the name of “strong allies”.what type of double standards are these.By the story of OBL assasination in not clear yet.some russian news were describing a whole different story that OBL was died natural death in 2002.what about that?????
what’s happening all around!!!!!!
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He should be given a longer sentence for each new case of polio that is diagnosed in his area of responsibility. Who would trust the next polio eradication team knocking at their foor?
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The doctor helped bring the world’s most dangerous terrorist to justice. Instead of rewarding him, he has been jailed. Just goes to show that the agencies/government consider the terrorists their valuable asset.
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THAT’S INJUSTICE MAN..!!!
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Well deserved punishment for the damage he has done. He could have passed this information to our own agencies, probably our agencies couldn’t buy him.
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Why could he not have given this information first to Pakistani authorities ?
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this guy should never see the daylight again who brought Pakistan such an embarrassment regardless of the fact why OBL was there
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Foolish counter move by Pakistan against American Congress bills. This will only make the Americans angrier.
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The man who should’ve been hailed a hero is sent to jail while Malik Ishaq roams free. Goes to show that the ‘deep state’ likes to take care of its assets and does not like it when they are taken out.
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Dr. Shakeel Afridi did a great service to the world in general.. How can you punish him?
AND WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE GIVING TO THE WHOLE WORLD..!?!??
MAN.. I PROTEST…!!!
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For his help in killing the most wanted terrorist in the world? He deserve a Nishan-e-Haider unless the terrorist Sheikh was ‘our’ guest and we wanted to keep him safe; was he?
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Only known Pakistani who helped eliminate most dangerous Terrorist – Bin Laden – is sentenced to 33 years!
And There is “no” evidence against Gazi brothers of Red Mosque of Islamabad that they did ANYthing wrong! Wow!
Could you imagine how a Canadian or even an Indonesian would view this, forget American or Brit?
If any one had doubt about “committment” of Pakistan to eradicate Al-Qaeda and Terrorism, they are resolved now. Pakistan is firmly committed to eradicate anyone who tried to damage Al-Qaeda or Terrorism at large!
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I think it was necessary to make an example out of this man, so that in future no one dares to help foreign spy agencies. Then again, I hope that it was made sure that Dr. Afridi had prior knowledge as to what he was doing and for whom he was doing it, otherwise this sentence would be simply unjust.
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33 years jail for passing information to CIA about terrorist? Anybody can understood Pakistan’s real intensions.
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From pashtuns’ perspective, #ShakilAfridi did the right thing. Al Qaeda has made Pashtuns’ lands the hub of global terrorism, and we owe it to the world as well as our own people to extend full cooperation to whoever is trying to eradicate this menace from our lands.
Furthermore, it’s Ironic that so far none of Osama’s enablers have been punished for the terrorist’ rather comfortable holidays in Abbotabad but Shakil Afridi has been done with swiftly. In fact, none of the known terrorists (the likes of Muslim Khan from Swat) have yet been sentenced.
Whose side are you on Pakistan ?
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This will remain a blot in the history books for eternity. The man who ensured the hunting down of the Worlds worst terrorist is sentenced to 33 years in prison. Strategic Assets it seems are very valuable. Did I hear someone say that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism ???
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Bad for Pakistan. Sends a wrong signal world over.
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Unfortunate. He is being punished for cutting short the “vacation” Mr Bin Laden was enjoying under the umbrella of our Intelligence forces at the heart of the armed forces stronghold.
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The end result is that Osama was caught and killed. I believe this was a shared goal for both Pakistan & the US. He was the most wanted terrorist. The guy is being punished for bringing an end to Osama & putting a dent into his terrorist organisation.
Don’t think anyone had confidence in the Pakistani agencies to tell them that they knew where Osama was…perhaps the end result might have been different.
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Does this mean that we are officially admitting to hosting OBL for all these years ?
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This action of Pakistani courts establishes which side of war on terror Pakistani judiciary is. Imprisoning Dr Shakil Afridi, Lawyers showering rose petals on Mumtaz Quadri, murderer of Salman Taseer, inability of courts to act against perpetrators of forceful conversions, judges avoiding to deal with terror related cases, unwillingness on the part of police to collect evidence to prosecute terrorists and Taliban to get them justice, leading to their acquitals, unwillingness of prison guards to put up a fight to prevent jail break leading to escape of 400 hard core terrorists; Pakistan is going in the correct direction set by their elders collectively and no one from present generation has the courage to change it.
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@Ali:
Now I have more trust on polio team as compare to ISI
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God has mysterious ways. He used a morally corrupt man to do a noble job: kill the murderer of thousands of innocent human beings.
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@A2Z:
and what about those who were hiding world’s no.1 terrorist?
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Did anyone know or cover the trial? Even trials of Soviet dissidents accused of espionage were more open than this!
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Even 33 years is a bit too lenient……Traitors deserve more than that
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I wasn’t surprised to know that US had blatantly revealed the identity of their informant who helped their way through- after he was done with his job n was pretty useless to them. This mean and unethical behavior is the hallmark of Americans as a nation as exactly what they have been treating their allies in the past. Poor Afridi have learnt the lesson a hard way. Have peace in jail dude while Obama administration is busy using the Osama-saga in securing their top positions in the up-coming presedential race.
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How will he recieve US citizenship now?
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Finally sane comments. I was fearing many commentator would support him. however they are still some.
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When is America buying our government and releasing him…and giving him American citizenship ??
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He has been punished not because he verified Bin Laden’s presence, but because he ran a fake polio campaign and collected DNA for which he was not authorized.
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why a person assisting in arresting a terrerist is being condemned as a traitor . Does it means that Pakistan supports Alqaeda and its actions ? and any one who is working against the heinios AlQaeda agenda of Killing and Maiming innocent people and specially Pakistanies is a Traitor ………………….. that is Point to ponder for all Pakistanies.
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Why was he tried under “tribal justice system”? because it is swift? Then it should be introduced throughout the country.Recommend
Should have follow Iran regarding sentences for these kind of traitor!!!
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He should be awarded
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Now NATO has to step in to rescue this poor doctor.
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Why is he being sentenced? There is no evidence that OBL was found in Abbotabad. Is he being punished for the fake drama carried out on May 2, 2011?
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Dr. Afridi……
………Traitor to nation………… Martyr to World Peace !!!!!Recommend
You’re right Nadir.
The ostrich-like approach is never beneficial for the people
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What he get is clear injustice, he is our socrates that we killed with our own hands. The person who helped saved so many future lives is getting this treatment :( He put his life on stake to get caught a culprit who is dodging our officials and wreaking havoc on the land of more than one country, who was responsible for the murder of millions.
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@musheer. The Pakistani authorities had the information all along. The poor guy has been punished because he exposed the double game being played by ISI/Army.
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Yup that’s Pakistan.. Make a fool of the Judiciary and you get 33 seconds. Make a fool of the Army and its 33 Years.Recommend
Instead of helping Pakistan catch him (if he was ever there in first place), He helped CIA.
Traitors deserve no mercy. He brought shame to nation, to his profession.
I hope he rot for ever in the jail
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His real crime is that he misused the trust of people in ‘polio vaccination’ by running fake campaign. Literally, no one trust polio vaccination in rural area any more.
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Afridi proved to be a very stupid person. Once he had given information, he should have moved out of Pakistan. Did he think that after death of OBL, Pakistani authorites would thank him and treat like a Hero? Why he didn’t know that majority of Pakistanis loved OBLRecommend
Dr. Afridi, you have my admiration and gratitude and, yes, now also my sympathies. You helped getting rid of that, horrible Osama Bin Laden and this is what you get in return as thanks. Shame on us, for treating our people this way, just to get square with whomever. Who was this character Bin Laden who brought so much of miseries and destruction and disrepute to us all, especially, to Pakistan and Pakistanis. What in hell was he doing in our country to begin with, why didn’t we ourselves destroy him along with all his reminiscent and his entire terrible legacy? This is unfair and bad precedence for good people who try to help destruction of evil. Dr. Afridi you are my hero and would remain so in my prayers and wishes. May Allah be with you all the time.Recommend
This man is a hero!. He saved many many lives. If Osama is alive he could cause many more destructions and death of many innocent people. My only regtet that it took so long to kill OBL. The action of Pakistan against this doctor, shows true face of Pakistani government. Who knows maybe Pakistani government even knew where OBL was living. May God help this doctor!
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Definitely discouraging for all his followers, persons like him are disposables for CIA !!!
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Hey he is a diplomat, hands off the doc!
On the serious note our tribal justice system, well that was one more step closer to make our land the purest in the ummah and the world! Hope the venerated Supreme Court does not take suo motu of the same and creates obstacle in this great endeavor.
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so our honorable courts cant punish terrorists (malik ishaq, muslim khan, lal masjid brigade etc) but will punish a person who brought the worlds most wanted man and a known terrorist to justice. i have no faith left in the future of this country.
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He has been saved from the revange of AL Qaida. After a couple of years they will shift him to USA to reside peacefully in Alaska or Navada.
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He should appeal and ask the tribal court to deport him to US so that he could collect the reward of millions of dollars.
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Person who thing OBL was the sole threat to humanity are living in a fool’s paradise, America is chief of all terrorists!
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Wanted to remind all those friends here who are favouring this judgement that if you rememeber recently ISI also proclaimed that they informed US about Osama. So what punishment you demand for this ?
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Dr Afridi’s good days at his door step……..his next destination is US
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Doctor Shakeel Afridi…You are the real Hero of Pakistan………A Man who helped to track down a terrorist Osama Bin Laden……….What message we are delivering to the whole world by punishing him…..
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Great decision. How can a citizen of one respectful country deal with other agencies, actually he deserve more then this to give a lesson to other traitor to respect the severity of our country.
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How can a citizen of one respectful country deal with other agencies?
Great decision, actually he deserve more then this to give a lesson to other traitor to respect the severity of our country.
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@Faysal:
Very true , acting against world’s biggest terrorist is such a big crime in Pakistan ..keep supporting all the terrorist ..and at the end of day beat ur chests saying that we are suffering because of terrorism .No matter if the world laughs at us ,sees us with suspicison.
Hafiz is also staying openly if Osama had approached Pak court he would have also been given clean chit and his charitable ways would have been highligted .He would have been shown as a messiah.
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This Doctor was used by Americans as data collection tool and he was not aware of Osama’s presence to report to the Authorities or media. In any case, people who shielded Osama must be toasting to his unjust incarceration and continue to rule the country.
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This man should be freed. He does not deserve jail. He made a service to the ISI for not being able to figure out OBL whereabouts…
I salute this gentleman.
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@Daredavils:
Yes keep dreaming ..world knows wot else is there to prove . Keep urself happy by believing
these stories .Must commend Pakistan of this ,on one hand they say Pakistan supported in the raid and on the other hand the person who really helped nab the biggest terrorist is
sentenced to 33 years of Jail . Wot else is there to proove . Keep supporting terrorists
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Can someone explain to me what crime this man committed? Does Pakistan not think that OBL was an international terrorists wanted around the world?
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Nothing paints a worse picture of Pakistan than this sentence does ! We have literally admitted to the world that Osama was an asset to Pakistan ! How does helping to capture a wanted criminal constitute treason??
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the matter is not that Shakeel afridi informant of OBL was sentenced because of passing information, but he was sentenced as he passed information to other country and not own country, he might would get good prize if he would have informed to own authorities, his punishment is not because of his information against OBL but his punishment is because of pass information to USA,
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@Pakistani Hindu…He has been sentenced for committing treason by helping the foreign agencies. There is no proof that someone was hiding OBL, courts cannot sentence someone merely on the basis of “believes” and “assumptions”.
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@Saleem:
and how u can say that ISI was playing game, if ISI was playing double game than why OBL was all alone in apartment, why there was no one protecting him, and shakeel was punished because he pass information to other country, he might would have good prize if he would have informed to own authorities.
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Great decision, actually he deserve more then this to give a lesson to other traitor to respect the severity of our country.
How can a citizen of one respectful country deal with other agencies?
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Pakistan never misses a chance to shoot itself in the foot — this sentence is akin to shouting to the World that OBL was your hero and you will punish anyone who helped bring him down. The only person who helped bring down OBL had his job taken away and now your going to lock him up for what amts to the rest of his life — SHAME ON YOU!
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@Jat: it shows we are not affraid of usa, cheers
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Just another ‘Qurbani ka Bakra’ to show the public that Pakistan has taken some steps regarding May 2 raid by US forces. Questions arise:
Isn’t Pakistani military and civil government working with CIA since 2001? Ain’t they traitors too and shouldn’t be charged for treason?
Doesn’t anyone from the forces needs to be court martial-ed for serious negligence on May 2, 2011?Like some officers have been convicted for Mehran Base attack?
Above all, does Pakistan have the courage to say that ‘Osama’ actually never existed in Abbotabad but admit just his family was settled there and to declare it was all part of ‘Osama end game’ and they themselves were part of this game.
After 65 years, for how many more years are they going to make a fool out of this nation?
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qurbani ka bakra and nothing else.
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Lawful decision !! but he did gr8 job
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Why is Afridi in Peshawar Central Jail? So that the US can try to attempt to rescue him from there? He should be sent to Multan or some other jail in central Pakistan far away from the ability of US to try and attempt foolishly to rescue the criminal.
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Regardless of the fact that he did the World some good. It is an act of treason for which the punishment is justified. And Osama has been dead for years. Please need to be informed more.
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This is outrageous. This man did the right thing and he is being punished for it. Just shows what a hypocritical country we are! We support terrorism that is what this indicates. And all the comments that support the sentence are supporters of terrorists.
Sad times lie ahead of Pakistan. Very Sad times indeed.
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Sham justice. What kind of justice is this that defendant is not allowed any defense? There was no trial at all leave aside the question of an open trial. He was not tried under any law but under an ambiguous tribal jirga. How a tribal jirga can punish some one for a alleged crime that happened outside the jurisdiction of tribal belt?
Looks like generals are pushing Pakistan to international isolation.
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@Zeta:
Do you think that Pakistan’s government did not know where was OBL? My concern he was there with a blessings of the Pakistani government. But who knows… I hope I am wrong!
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He may have done good to bring OBL to justice, the problem the way he has done it. He should have put his motherland first and should have informed Pak authorities since the day he was recruited as spy for CIA!
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@Gul Khan Momand:
“He has been punished not because he verified Bin Laden’s presence, but because he ran a fake polio campaign and collected DNA for which he was not authorized.”
And that deserves a 33 year jail sentence? A fine or revocation of license maybe, but the jail sentence is excessive and only serves to make clear to the whole world which side Pakistan has chosen.
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On the one hand we have mass murderers in the guise of “pious preachers” who terrorized Islamabad and used children as human shields and killed army soldiers not just roaming free but HELPED by our superior courts on suo moto to get their illegally acquired land back, and on the other hand we have a man who helped get rid of an evil terrorist jailed for 33 years by the same court system. I have lost all respect for our lawyers and judiciary and consider them complicit in the destruction of Pakistan.Recommend
A black day for Pakistan for punishing its brave son who passed the information about a dreaded terrorist responsible for 3000 deaths who was sought by the Interpol and carried a huge reward on his head. Dr Afridi is neither a traitor and nor has committed any act of treason since he did not pass any sensitive information to another country which compromised defence and sovereignty of Pakistan. The irony is that Pakistan along with US is fighting a war against terror but punishing its own national who located the most sought after terrorist and rather than projecting him as a hero for an international bravery award handed him a 33 years sentence. This strange and totally unjustified conviction make Pakistan a suspect in the eyes of the international community of delibrately sheltering OBL and punishing its brave national for locating him and causing major embarassment to the state.
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This is the main reason that no one comes forward either as a witness or informer if he or she sees any criminal activities going around. There are many in our country on whom there is head money but people knowingly would not come forward and the reason is same ….. that person will either be killed in mysterious conditions or booked in some dangerous cases.A person whose head money was $50 million was not for Dr. Afridi to go after him. In our country if a person sees anyone dieing on the road will never inform Police because they will not leave him on one pretext or the other. Here the the BOOTY was too high for mouth watering persons. I think he will be facilitated either to escape from the prison or he will go as did Raymond Davis.
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hopefully our Government will play smart and exchange him for Afia Siddiqui. Quid pro Quo?
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I am sure Pakistani courts got proof which proved his guilt beyond doubt.
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The Constitution of Pakistan defines treason as
6. High treason.
[4A][(1) Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.]
(2) Any person aiding or abetting [4B][or collaborating] the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.
[4C][(2A) An act of high treason mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2) shall not be validated by any court including the Supreme Court and a High Court.]
How many have committed this crime. And how many have been punished?
And now, a court in Pakistan has shown on which side it stands.
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@Pakistani:
If Usama was dead for years then this poor doctor who did he inform about? was it the sheiks family??
Common guys Think straight If you are convicting Dr Afridi for informing CIA about Usama then accept that Usama was killed in Abottabad in 2011 may if not then why is this poor doctor being punished what was his crime was it because he fooled CIA and americans by telling them that Usama Lived there? make up your mind
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The whole world should be united this unjust decision, world is a safer place because of this guy. I’m quite sure most of the civilised world disapprove this wild decision. It might send a signal to the USA, not to expect any help from locals.
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If that person is sentenced to 33 years than President of Pakistan should also be awarded 33 years coz he immediately after the raid phone Obama to congrats him.
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Did he acted alone. What about his other accomplices.
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Forget OBL, he also bought disgrace to the vacinnation process, which allready recieves enough flak is.
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@Babloo:
sou r suggesting proceedings of all cases shud be suspended till salman taseer’s case???
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@Aryabhat:
he is sentenced because he collaborated with agencies of another country.
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Jonathan Pollard (israeli spy in US sentenced to life imprisonment for spying) of Pakistan in most gentle words
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@Pakistani Hindu:
i think this yet to decied who is the biggest terrorist and usa and euorpe does not have the authority well at the moment they ve got the might on their side but for how long?????
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Our government had a fat chance here for saving face by making Dr. Afridi a hero for helping to get rid of the world’s biggest terrorist from Pakistan. Instead, he is given a 33 year sentence. Doesn’t this mean that the Pakistani authorities were (at the very least) complicit?
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Good job Pakistan keep up the Good work.
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You guys commenting that he deserved more are incredible! OBL was the biggest terrorist in the world and lets not forget the thousands that have been slaughtered by terrorists and extremists organizations under his command (or followers of his messages)!
Dr. Afridi does not deserve to go to prison; his information led to the demise of one of the biggest culprits in the world!
Those of you saying he should’ve told someone in the media or the government? Are you serious? Chances are someone who is a mole or connected to OBL would’ve told him and he would have ran away.
Simply unbelievable at these comments!
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You promise the United States to help find Osama Bin Laden. And you punish the Pakistani who actually fulfilled that promise.
A free candy bar to whoever can tell me why America doesn’t trust Pakistan. Anyone?
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Express Tribune is biased. It doesnot give adequate coverage to Afghan Perspective.
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@Loneliberal PK:
HE should have helped Pakistan track him and not the foreign hostile intelligence agency. That makes him traitor even if the cause was just.
Well deserved punishment
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Dont worry traitor Shakil your american sanctuaries will soon run for your cover,In Pakistan even killers like raymond davis are deported unharmed to U.S whereas you were just an informant.Now spend your dollars you earned from CIA in jail for lifetime
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not right
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SHAME! That’s call micky mouse judiciary system :- ).
No wonder why extremist goes unpunished in Pakistan because Judiciary system is so much influenced by extremist elements.
Why this time chief justice didn’t take a notice of it…sheer injustice.
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“He was sentenced under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) clauses related to offences against the state, conspiracy, or attempt to wage war against Pakistan, concealing with intent designs to wage war against the state and on charges of working against the country’s sovereignty, a Khyber administration official said.”
What should one make of this? Exposing a fugitive criminal was a crime against the state, conspiracy, and attempt to wage war————.
I arrest my case. I am just stunned and my mind is spinning full circle. May higher authority help Pakistan, teach it wisdom, respect for human rights, and all those things associated with human decency.
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Ridiculous. Most wanted terrorists and killers of young men brainwashed into killing hundreds of average Paksitanis in mosques and marketplaces are given a warm welcome in the wild west we have become. Convicted killers and incitors of violence are roaming about freely and our biggest problem is with someone giving up the whereabouts of one of the biggest terrorists in the world. How stupid is that?
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I think most people are missing the point. If Dr. Shakil Adfidi had carried out an exercise like this in any other country he would have received similar punishment. I disagree with many government decisions, but have the sense to know that laws must be obeyed. For example, some taxation laws are quite unfair, but I still pay the tax. In Doctor Afridi’s case one does not have to be an intellectual giant to know that being an informant and giving secret information to another foreign power is illegal. Some would argue that if Pakistan had been given the information they would have ignored it. This is doubtful, but the bottom line is that the Doctor was a U.S. intelligence agent, working for the CIA, and he conspired with them to create a situation which undermined Pakistan credibility, as well as embarrassing the Government, and failing to advise it that he knew the whereabouts of Pakistan’s number one enemy. On an aside, I wonder if the Pakistan Authorities found any trace of Osama bin Laden’s DNA in the Abbottabad House before they pulled it down, and was it used in the court trial?.
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@ all opponents
shame on your thanking, i am surprised how many in Pakistan still have servant mentality? if this drama will happen in development country, then their citizen will inform their agencies or deal with foreigners? this act was shameful to usRecommend
@Sarmad Hassan:
What sort of reservations?
The guy was found along side with dozen children and so many wives and still you people won’t believe it?.
Wake up before its over as it is already too late. Recommend
Hahahahahaha,,Afridi will soon be flying to the US
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Dr. Shakil derseve reward rather than punishment. Pakistani youth are fed up with the Mullah influenced law and security forces of Pakistan.
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If you cant catch the Big Fish eliminate the small ones. One year since the whole country was embarrassed worldwide, not a word on the actual culprits who aided Bin-Laden while this guy gets 33 years. Amazing..!! So at the end of the day our Ghairat forces us to remain focused on how this guy embarrassed the armed forces while totally overlooking the incompetence which was the prime factor in bring us this shame.
Major chunk of Pakistan’s budget (over the last 6 decades) and you exhibit such stellar performance. We salute your dedication good sirs. You deserve all the commercial plots and chauffeur driven vehicles that this poor country bestows upon you dear lords. We were born to serve you; and your honor is more dear to us than our own lives. While the brave sons of this poor nation continue to be cannon fodder to your stupid decisions as they fight an enemy which you will eventually embrace, your own children enjoy the luxury of studying and living abroad. How many of you have sent your own flesh and blood to Kargil or Afghanistan.? While your children attend the Beacons, Cities and Aitchisons the children of the poor experience the horrors of Dark Madrassas and even Darker Mullahs. And then when they take their revenge it is the omnipresent Foreign hand and not our incompetence and ignorance that is to blame. May you live Long and continue to rule over us till eternity.
Your Humble Servants,
The People of Pakistan.
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If Dr Shakeel Afridi can get 33 years for a vaccination shot, what’s wrong with Dr Afia Siddiqui’s 83 years for a gunshot?!Recommend
What century are we living in, this guy (traitor or not) didn’t even have access to a lawyer. I’m sick of reading comments such as “oh now the liberals and seculars will start bashing” (mentioned by A2Z, weird name that). It’s not about being liberal or secular. Its about providing justice with impartiality. But wait, tribal courts hand down sentences without any evidence, without any arguments, without any defense lawyers, the tribal courts should then be used for all our leaders. Lets see how many of them make it out of it. Since we all know already that the Supreme Court is extremely incompetent, hands out verdicts that contradict themselves and are unclear. Imprisons a sitting Prime Minister inside the court for a few minutes, only to cause a political turmoil once he walks out. Either way, this guy was not provided a fair trial, maybe he knew too much so they had to put him away.
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He’s a history writer, I assure you he will be awarded after his death….after all we are Muslims and Pakistani as well, who think 100 years later. Terrorists captors are enemies of Pakistani? Are you kidding me?
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take care guys ,,, most of the comments are from indians….
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Zeta,
That doesn’t make sense.
Firstly, USA is not a ‘hostile’ foreign power. As far as our foreign office is concerned, it’s an ally. Maybe not the best ally, but certainly not a hostile force.
Also, Pakistan had promised to deliver OBL to the Americans. If Dr. Afridi had informed the Pakistani forces about OBL’s hideout, they still would’ve forwarded the information to the Americans anyway according to their deal, so either way, we would’ve achieved the same goal. At most he could’ve been reprimanded for not following the proper protocol, but treason, absolutely not.
By common sense, the only reason Pakistan would object to Afridi informing the Americans directly, is if the Pakistani forces never meant to keep their promise and were intending to keep the information hidden from the Americans.
By punishing Afridi, Pakistan has indirectly admitted that the operation that killed the world’s most wanted terrorist was against its national interest, and they never really intended to deliver OBL to America, as originally promised.
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How could it be called treason? Was OBL a Pakistani citizen? Did he have a valid Pakistani Visa/Residence permit? I would report it 100 times to Americans or anybody who could help me to get rid of terrorists to save my innocent people. Dr. Shakeel Afridi you’re my hero.
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Dr Saab may be zero in Pakistan but he is a hero in every other country in the world. This is a fact.
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Can any Pakistani Patriot explain, how the Judiciary in Pakistan always ends up convicting a Bhutto, a Sharif and a Dr Shakil but never a Malik Ishaq or a Hafiz Saeed or any terrorist for that matter.
And then you guys protest that the world is being unfair yo you.
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Osama bin laden killed 40,000 pakistanis but still there were rallies in support of him even in comments here, but Dr afridi who assisted to find and kills this mass murderer was imprisoned for 33 years and the fools say that he deserve prison.Recommend
@Hella: You are truly blessed.
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Shameless we are… Truely shameless….. Why should he be sentenced for the imcompetence of the corrupt government that didn’t want OBL to be found in the first place. If anyone’s to be blamed for bringing shame and humiliation to Pakisani nation, its the government for the ppl, by the ppl, the vast majority of the shameless ppl including the ones who are commenting in the favor of the sentence.
And for the ones who think that this guy could have come forward with this formation to the agencies or media…. Well hello…. Open your minds… Who was hiding him there in the first place…. And media?? Who controls the media… The agencies, obviously.
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@Babloo:
I honestly think you are asking the right questions. Good to know there are other like me still lingering about.
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Give him a shield of acknowledgment and Rs 1 million as award for helping the world in catching Mr. Laden, then give him sentence for acting against the will of the Government of Pakistan.
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The real traitors are those who were sheltering Bin Laden.
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@Gul Khan Momand: “He has been punished not because he verified Bin Laden’s presence, but because he ran a fake polio campaign and collected DNA for which he was not authorized.
“
What you stated woudl be reasonable. But the reason he is being sentenced is that he is a ‘traitor’ NOT because he ran a false polio campaign. The question is how does giving details to CIA about Obama Bin Laden amount to treason – unless ofcourse Pakistan was actually protecting him?
all people who are calling him traitor, can you please clarify?
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@Babloo: Dont be Show sharp he is sentenced and currently in jail he was given death penalty hold (ask HRW if they want qadri to be hanged ). Any country would have hanged afridi even in Swaziland come up with legal argument nut No body have proved any involvement of state or any institution.
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Any hope of a civilized society in Pakistan is diminishing rapidly. Forget about rest of the world, we are on the path of self destruction because of our egotistical institutions. May Allah show us the right path (Amen).
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What? Under the Tribal Justice system? FCR? How about our top servicemen who have handed over hundreds of Al-Qaida members to USA? If this is treason, then I must say that our army and ISI top brass have been involved in far greater treasonous acts.
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@T Khan: Pakistan is a third world country and bordered 4 countries Ask american if they had secure Mexico border any body can hide in pak easily its more easy when u have money and manpower to help and protect a mexcian can hide easily in Us then a Person from southasia as he can mix on other side .
Try to enter some body house in KP or Baluchistan you will get u answer.
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Wait.. Did he already recieve the Bounty for OBL information from US?
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Just as I anticipated and predicted the Americans have reacted sharply. Statements from White House and three senior senators including McCain the Republican presidential candidate from last elections.
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@Sarmad Hassan:
“There will be several comments here supporting this guy. While one can have serious reservations on OBL living in Abbotabad. IMHO, this guy acted against the law and was a traitor under all definitions possible. Deserved it !”
What law did he violate and why is he traitor? For helping kill Osama, a global terrorist, whose presence in Pakistan was denied by the Pak establishment? It seems the real traitors are the army/ISI who hid Osama and other top terrorists in Pakistan for so long. Is it in the interest of Pakistanis to harbor, nurture and hide global terrorists?
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@Babloo:
Murderer of Salmaan Taseer has got Death penalty long time ago! Read newspapers before commentingRecommend
“Afridi was not present in the court and not given a chance to defend himself, officials said. Under the tribal system, he would not have had access to a lawyer.”
Afridi was not given an opportunity to defend himself. This raises a question mark on the tribal Judicial system of Khyber Pakhtunwh. Pakistan. Unfortunate situation.
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Shame!
It doesn’t reflect well on Pakistan.
Moreover, knowing the fate of this guy, many would be discouraged from reporting about other bad guys, even those hurting Pakistan also.
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This is injustice and foolish of Pakistan.
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“Afridi was not present in the court and not given a chance to defend himself, officials said. Under the tribal system, he would not have had access to a lawyer.”
Tribal Judicial system does not allow access to Lawyer.Dr Afridi not given opportunity to defend himself. . This is not justice..
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When is US releasing Pollard?
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@Jat: Just as I anticipated and predicted the Americans have reacted sharply. Statements from White House and three senior senators including McCain the Republican presidential candidate from last elections.
What else did you expect? Have you ever wondered why the whole world LOVES and RESPECT us so much ;-)
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