PHOTO: AFP
Close aides of a Pakistani doctor linked to the CIA have claimed that the United States government has "done nothing" for the incarcerated surgeon, while calling for his family members, who are under threat, to be immediately ‘evacuated’ from Pakistan.
“I am sorry to say that [the] US government is doing nothing for him,” Qamar Nadeem Afridi, the doctor’s lawyer and also a cousin, told FoxNews.com in an exclusive interview.
"He has been left to wolves and terrorists all around him in Peshawar central prison.”
Dr Shakil Afridi, a government surgeon who helped the CIA uncover Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts by running a fake vaccination programme, was convicted of treason by the Federally Administered Tribal Areas tribunal for alleged ties to militants and jailed for 33 years in May 2012.
Shakil, hailed as a hero by US officials, was arrested after US special forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in Abbottabad.
RELATED POST: Bin Laden informant: Dr Shakil Afridi sentenced to 33 years
Shunning the US State Department’s claims that they continue to “raise this issue at the highest levels” of Pakistan’s leadership, the lawyer said he and Shakil’s brother and friends bear most of the doctor’s legal and other expenses.
“You know, both of them, he and his wife, were [in] very respectable government positions prior to this situation,” said Nadeem. “He was a doctor, head… doctor in the district, while his wife was a principle of [a] government degree college for women.
“But now they are in a very … miserable condition. You can’t even imagine. He is not working; she is in hiding.”
Shakil’s wife remains in hiding with their two sons and a daughter, in fear of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, who have declared to seek revenge for bin Laden’s killing.
Human rights activist Zar Ali Khan Afridi, who has faced death threats for pleading Shakil’s case, urged the family should be evacuated from Pakistan.
“Pakistan is not a country to provide security, and we also do not believe in its system,” Zar Ali said.
“You know that Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was assassinated by his own police guard [in 2011]. Therefore, demanding security support is not a good thing. [The family’s] presence here in Pakistan is [the] worst [of all situations]. They should be evacuated because things are serious. You know, there are fundamentalists and terrorists all around,” he added.
Shakil is jailed in a prison in Peshawar. His lawyer said only his wife and children are allowed to visit him.
Zar Ali told FoxNews.com that the restrictions on lawyer and family visits were a “serious human rights violation.”
COMMENTS (36)
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Yeah he should have been let to escape like other traitors for example Hussain Haqqani who took oath in the SC that he would return but then never returned from the land of his masters and now getting his articles published in a newspapers that's been known for its hatred and contempt of this country and its common people
@Insaaf: That's what you are proving to be, lol!
Afridi did immense harm to Pakistan. We hid Osama because we got billions to try and find him. Once he was found, the aid stopped and our economy took a big hit.
@baezer khan: because his work was not to be in connection with any foreign force, what was his purpose to deal with, army has to secure pakistan even playing a game of strategy
Pakistan army and pakistan airforce are also hepling americans so why dual standards then y the army chief and the other generals are not in jail
@numbersnumbers: RE: THE MISSING OBL BODY Dear numbers, Why do I have the strangest feeling that if I tried to sell you my BMW you would not hand over any money until you sighted the car in my driveway, had a signed contract and the keys in your hand. Just a few small points to consider, but there are others if you wish me to spell them out.
All these Indians here who love Shakil Afridi should ask their government to trade him with Pakistan for Kashmir. Otherwise he's going DOWN.
@Cynic Waheed: Good.. he should be torn apart, and it fits him too..
@Alfa Romeo: Not that simple! "word for word" lol! Prove please! "Knowing how Raymond..." Not knowing how he was released? Blood money, Sir! Court verdict, Saudi paid, Air lifted. None of such landmark events happen to Dr. Afridi. He is in Pak in the Jail above mentioned! There is a limit to conspiracy theories. The trick is: Read same news in diverse medias when fresh!
Raj - USA - "It pains me a lot to see that US is ditching him and has almost forgotten this hero. "
The U.S. Govt had offered him & his family safe passage to their country, considering the risk to his life. However he took the high moral ground and tried to be patriotic for an ungrateful country. He would have been lynched by now, except for the efforts of the U.S. Govt. And now he expects the US Govt to intervene as if they have plenty of time on their hands.
I really doubt if Afridi is in jail. Knowing how Raymond Davis has been moved out, I think Afridi has already been shipped out. This news could have been just a planted news for public consumption. The Generals, literally take American commands and implement it word on word. America would have stopped the aid/donation of leftover weapons/not let Raheel set foot in the country if Afridi wasn't released.
@Sexton Blake: @Abrar Malik Of course all could look up "death of Osama bin Laden" on wikipedia, or all the detailed Pakistani media reports of OBLs wives, children and grandchildren discovered at the compound after the raid!!! @Ch. Allah Daad FYI, Afridi organized a fake Hepatitus vaccination campaign, so please get your story straight!
People who are angry with Dr. Afridi are NOT necessarily supporters of OBL. The fact is that Dr. Afridi committed treason against Pakistan. Treason is a crime in almost all countries. Otherwise, the US would not still have the Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard, in jail. The US has absolutely no business telling Pakistan how to deal with treason.
@Abrar Malik: They did try to return him to his land he came from but upon their orders they had to dump him where they finally did. Flying around with a body is not smart, does it? Lol
I may be not be up to the dizzy intellectual heights of contributors such as numbers and Ch Allah Daad, but I certainly would not stick around Pakistan if I had indulged in treason. There is a saying: "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time". The good doctor is very fortunate. In many countries he would have been executed. A good example is the US which has executed and or imprisoned people for indefinite detention due to treason or whistle blowing.
He is responsible for polio fiasco he should be hanged by the toes
I don't know what is wrong with people. For the love of God - Osama was not even their. The US never caught him - if they had why would the kill him ASAP.
None of the footage revealed clearly shows its Osama, if they really caught him they would show the world they did, they would interrogate him for info - bear him up lol.
@Silent Conqueror: Yes, I fully agree, so that The State could quietly relocate Osama (and his large entourage/family!) to another Safe House since he was such a valuable strategic "Asset"!!!!
Sympathizers of extremist and Osama's Al Qaida who have claimed responsibilities of bloodshed in Pak over last couple decades do actually have blood-on-their-hands of all students, women and children and non-constant Pak citizens. It's their supporters why so much blood is spilled in Pak! Pak Army Zindabad!
Afridi committed one good act, one crime and one stupidity. Trying to find a terrorist was good act, organizing a fake polio campaign was a crime and not leaving Pakistan when his own mentors asked him to leave was a stupidity. He has already suffered a lot for his crime, therefore he should be forgiven and allowed to leave the country.
He may have helped catch OBL but he has also destroyed the credibility of the anti-polio campaign in Pakistan. He will be (albeit partly) responsible for crippling thousands because of the treasonous actions against the state.
@Silent Conqueror: As if the local authorities were unaware of OBL presence.
@Cynic Waheed:
"Just like Dr Afridi threw The whole of Pakistan to the Wolves! Enjoy it now"
Helping to catch a global terrorist is "throwing the whole of Pakistan to the wolves"?
If you really meant that, that means you fully support global terrorism and want to fully convert Pakistan into a terror-sponsoring state.
I am aware that Dr Shakil Afridi has virtually destroyed the Pakistan polio vaccine program, but am still waiting for evidence to be provided that a bunch of US navy seals bagged OBL. If anybody has that evidence I would be grateful if they provided the link.
Hey where is my comment, freedom of expression only if et likes it
@Bachi: After coming to know that Osama was there, his prime responsibility as a citizen of Pakistan was to tell the local authorities about it, instead of working with foreign agencies.
It pains me a lot to see that US is ditching him and has almost forgotten this hero. We should have raised this issue with Raheel Sharif when he visited US for two weeks. We should bring him and his family to US. He deserves the award money that US offered for info. on OBL. In the first place, we should not have let him be in prison for so long and should have brought him and his family to US a long time ago. We should demonstrate to the world that just like we do not forget our enemies, we also remember our friends and would protect them.
I am confused. Those who help capture one of Pakistan's worst enemies rot in jails, and those who support and defend the murderers and enemies of state become Justices in the High Courts of the country or are ruling our media. This war has to be fought leaving aside emotions and false pride. We need to be as ruthless with the enemy as they are with us. If we need to partner with the lone super power in the world or any or all of our neighbors to defeat this monster, we should do it.
He should be branded and hanged, for irreparable loss to anti-polio campaign in Pakistan
Traitors usually are hanged.
ET: Why did you not posted my comment?
@Cynic Waheed:
How did he do that? By helping the world catch its most wanted man? Get real.
that was a stupid and inconsiderate remark and does not belong on a civilized forum like this.
... Just like Dr Afridi threw The whole of Pakistan to the Wolves! Enjoy it now.
Sincerely,
A Pakistani.