On the backburner: Shakil Afridi’s case record remains unproduced

Seven notices have been issued to Khyber Agency’s political administration to date.


Our Correspondent November 20, 2014

PESHAWAR:


FATA Tribunal yet again adjourned the hearing of Dr Shakil Afridi’s case on Thursday, following the absence of his case record despite seven notices issued to Khyber Agency’s political administration to date.


Dr Shakil Afridi’s counsel Qamar Nadeem informed the tribunal that the political administration has paid little heed towards the tribunal’s directives despite seven notices.

Consisting of chairman Shah Wali Khan and members Pir Muhammad Fida and Akbar Khan, the tribunal issued yet another notice to produce the case record before the next hearing on December 18.



Afridi was initially arrested for spying for CIA to track down Osama bin Laden. He was later handed 33 years in prison by assistant political agent of Bara for having ties with Mangal Bagh’s Lashkar-e-Islam.

Afridi then challenged the decision with the FATA Tribunal which directed FCR commissioner to write a detailed order and remove all ambiguities from the judgement on December 18, 2013.

However, FCR commissioner upheld the sentence of Dr Shakil Afridi on March 15, announced by assistant political agent, Bara with the removal of one section of charges which reduced the sentence to 23 years.



Afridi yet again challenged the new verdict of 23 years in the slammer, arguing that it was not in compliance with FATA Tribunal’s directives.

The case has since been on the backburner, with the tribunal repeatedly ordering Khyber Agency’s political administration to produce a complete record of the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2014.

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