Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) lawyers, accompanied by members of the Aman Tehreek (peace movement), submitted an application at the central prison in Peshawar seeking Dr Shakil Afridi’s approval for the power of attorney.
Aman Tehreek chief Idrees Kamal told The Express Tribune that the application had been submitted and the verdict by the political administration would be challenged in the office of the commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) as soon as they receive the signed power of attorney.
“Thousands of innocent Pashtoons have been killed,” said Idrees. “The world has been trying to reduce, in fact, eliminate terrorism and Shakil has helped the world.”
He said that a copy of the political administration’s order, inscribed with Dr Shakil’s sentence, had also been requested.
Qamar Nadeem Afridi, a member of the Fata Lawyers’ Forum (FLF) and a relative of Dr Shakil, when contacted was also of the same view. He said that Dr Shakil had done something which the government and the whole world had been doing since a long time.
“Section 121 (waging war against the state) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), under which Dr Shakil has been sentenced is completely wrong,” said Qamar.
“Shakil has not waged war against the country nor he has been involved in conspiring against it.”
FLF president Ejaz Mohmand said they were not favoring Dr Shakil, but were stressing upon following proper procedures.
“I don’t say Shakil has done something extraordinary and should be rewarded for it, but it is his right to appeal against the verdict. Thus we are preparing to submit our appeal before the commissioner FCR.”
COMMENTS (38)
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Why we are making hero of this guy. He was in US (2008-09) to carry out this mission. Before this, he had links with the Talibans and was their doctor until this greedy guy fees was unaffordable to them :d. People are really ill informed about this guy. Read Amir Mir's article regarding him in The News.
@Roflcopter: Still waiting on the Commission's report.
@Drone_Strike Everybody that acts against US interests is a terrorist? Under the same rule all people who are involved in activities against Pakistan, sitting in US, must be terrorists then, right?
i dont understand pakistan system, they are fighting against Al qaeda and now they have sentenced the person who helped the world in finding Osama who was banned leader of Al qaeda.if this is treason so ISI should also be sentenced for treason in handing over thousands of Alqaeda members to US when musharaf Army dictator was ruling the country who put us into War? musharaf clearly mentioned in his book "In the line of fire" that he has handed over thousands of Alqaeda leaders to US then why is Afridi being sentenced for Treason doesnt make sense
@Umer: But it was considered illegal to work for the ISI correct? Same in this case. Working for the CIA was illegal. We consider it treason. the US does not. But regardless of that difference it is illegal in both legal jurisdictions and this Pakistani verdict is valid as per the law of the land.
So unless the Human rights activists want the courts to go against the law they have no leg to stand on.
Nominate Dr Afridi and Abdul Sattar Edhi both of Pakistan for the Nobel Peace Prize next year.
The problem that is not being discussed is who kept Osama on Pak soil?
I suggest to launch trial for all such human rights activists. what would USA have done if someone had done some thing like this in america. he launched a false polio campaign, took money from cia and it is enough to be called as traitor.
these so called human rights activist should learn the meaning of word "right" first. and Kant's principle of right specially which focuses on "Universality" and "Reversibility" is the best place to start with.
Shakil Afridi did the same thing Pakistani govt has been doing for last 10 years : cooperate with US govt to catch and kill terrorists. Only his reward is jail instead of millions of dollars.
@Zamir Malik: Aafia is a TERRORIST. Please don't cite examples of terrorists.
it will be a good job done.
Sentimental Pakistanis here are forgetting that Dr. Afridi helped catch the world’s most wanted terrorist who was leading an organization that is directly responsible for ruthlessly killing hundreds of Pakistanis including innocent men, women, children and members of our armed forces.
Despite international suspicion we kept denying vehemently that OBL was on our soil – while he was living a life of comfort just a stone’s throw away from an Army academy – isn’t it a shame?
Whether we like it or not, both our Army and our government have taken billions of dollars from the USA in the name of the war on terror. We were obliged to bring in OBL – but we didn’t. And when a poor chap helped the CIA in tracking him down, we are branding him as a traitor? Aren’t we ourselves officially coordinating with CIA on the same front? Is America our enemy or is Al Qaeda and Taliban our enemy? Decide this first, confused Pakistanis!
To all so called human rights activists! What are you doing for those thirteen killed in Karachi on 22nd May??? Oh you don't remember......just what expected of you!
@sick of this nonsense, you're wrongfully implying that we were deliberately hiding OBL. Ashamed that we have such people who blindly believe foreign propaganda.
@Mazher Mehboob, yes let's help a guy who was working for a spy agency of a mass murdering country (US).
Liaising with a known enemy is waging war against the country and the penalty for treachery is death.
@CM:
Not really. Glulam Nabi Fai was proven to be working for ISI but he was not charged with treason. You need to update yourself on US law.
But wait a Sec,should i assume Drones dont kill Humans,so no Humans rights are violated ?
The main damage done by this guy is to the polio vaccine campain. Can you imagine how many kids will get polio because of the fake vaccination drive this disgracful doctor was running? People now don't trust polio vaccination drives and many have been turning social workers and medical personnel away from their home because of the fear of getting caught up in something as malevolent as this man's fake campain.
@Uzair Javaid: We should be ashamed of harboring OBL
I've said this before but ' when two elephants fight the grass and the small ant's that roam there, all get crushed '. On the face of it this whole affair appears ridiculous and looks like another embarrassment in the making.
Help Dr Afridi. Save Humanity
Afridi is a National treasure and hero
Idiots. Involved in activities supported by a foreign intelligence agency is treason. It is illegal under US law. That is why the Kashmir Lobby gentlemen went to jail last year.
These lawyers need to learn the very basics of International Law.
If Pakistan was herself hunting for OBL and that too for America then how the doctor has done a crime. He must be rewarded.
Mir Sadiq and Mir Jaffer also did not wage war against the country but just COOPERATED with the British (and charged some fee for this service)
Great news. Now the Political Parties should rise against this verdict and let the Dr. come out of the unujust prision.
“Thousands of innocent Pashtoons have been killed. The world has been trying to reduce, in fact, eliminate terrorism and Shakil has helped the world.”
I think I should go out and kill all the dacoits and thieves. Also the extrajudicial killings of "known" ills by police should also be appreciated. Then these human right groups should not condemn such actions.
While CIA cooperates with ISI, they are also running an illegal parallel network (remember Raymond Davis) and this guy was recurited by that network to spy without the knowledge of ISI. With the help of patriotic hero like Shakil Afridi (sarcasm of course), US successfully kept Pakistan in the dark, carried out the operation and humiliated Pakistan, especially our security agencies, to the max by putting atrocious allegations against them. The great patriot Shakil Afridi knowingly worked with a foreign spy agency while keeping ISI at dark.
What a jstice system? Terrorist be compensated in Lal masjid issue PCO CJP badshah sahib. and a person who helped in tracing world number one terrorist anddouble agent is given 33 years imprisonment, pity the nation who is still having such one eyed judges.
Was it Shakil Afridi alone.. what about any ISI / Army officer being an aide to this operation.
Ali
He is not loyal to Pakistan, he should tell to Police First about Usama, he was taking Dollers from Usa n did what ever US said to him. He should be Hanged immediately.
For all the Liberalists I have a question that where were they when America recently jaled One Kashmiri for life based on that he got the money from Pakistan. Also what about Aafia Siddiqui. Where were our Human rights winners of Pakistan that time??. The reason was simple that these so called Pakistani human right champions have to appease one Super Entity and that is why Dr Afridi's case came forward. In my view Spy is Spy. A Spy works for the Sabotage on one country. Today he was on Abbotabad assignment. Tomorrow he will be on another assignment to destablize Pakistan then what we can do?. So stop whining About Afridi. Anyone Spying on one's Soil for another country is a Traitor and this Definition is Universal throughout the World.
"Shakil has not waged war against the country nor he has been involved in conspiring against it."
Working for CIA abusing the trust of Pakistani sub ordinates and the health officials . It's disgusting! 33 years are not enough. Next I will work for Khad/RAW to run a fake educational campaign to gather information for KGB.
Ok, So US embassies pouring in money on human rights activists and lawyers too. Shame on this nation which takes money to protest against the sentence of a traitor. Working for a foreign intelligence agency who killes innocent Pakistanis every other day in their drone campaigns is a clear work of a traitor and he needs punishment