PESHAWAR: A Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama bin Laden has spoken out to demand better conditions in prison and complain of being falsely implicated in a treason case, his lawyer said on Sunday.
Shakeel Afridi also called for access to his lawyer in a letter that his attorney Samiullah Afridi, who shares his client's tribal name, said was genuine.
Shakeel Afridi was arrested and charged with betraying his country after US troops killed al Qaeda leader bin Laden in the town of Abbottabad in May 2011.
He was initially sentenced to 33 years in jail and given a fine, but a court in the northwestern city of Peshawar overturned his sentence in August and ordered a retrial.
“I have been arrested and implicated in a false case,” said Afridi in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
“I am perhaps the first Pakistani who has been denied access to his lawyer. What kind of justice is this,” said the letter.
In the letter, Afridi argued it was his legal right to see his lawyer, and said: “I am a (government) officer and a respectable Pakistani citizen.”
He called for access to better conditions and security in jail. He also said he did not know on what basis his sentence had been overturned.
Afridi was recruited by the CIA to run a vaccination programme in Abbottabad in the hope of obtaining DNA samples that could help identify bin Laden, although medics never managed to gain access to the family.
The doctor was convicted of treason under Pakistan's tribal justice system in 2012 – not for working for the CIA, for which the court said it had no jurisdiction, but for alleged ties to militants.
A tribunal is set to hear an appeal from Afridi on December 9 seeking a fresh investigation prior to retrial.
Afridi is also facing a murder charge, after authorities in Peshawar on November 23 charged him with killing the son of a tribal woman.
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Comments (13) Closed
I can't wait to hear from him when he is out of the country.
Dr Afridi, You are an intelligent and a decent human being; extremely courageous man with high morals and yet you expect justice in Pakistan?? What's wrong with you?? May God Bless You.
I think the new chief justice have already taken a notice of that and hopefully he will get his rights as a prisoner.
A condemned Spy asking for rights, lets see if he deserves what he is asking for?
He should get the legal rights but what he did was a disgrace.
Stabbing your own country in back!
OK, so you helped a foreign nation attack your country, and that does not sound like treason to you? What about telling all those parents that you immunized their children, and you did not. still feel like a respectable Pakistani citizen and a physician?
You did more harm then all the insurgents put together and then some.
Dr. Shakeel Afridi has rights under the legal system. He should be allowed access to his lawyer.
As a medical doctor if he did what he did - collected DNA using polio vaccination program as a cover, then as a medical doctor myself I think he disobeyed the widely accepted unsaid oath adopted in the declaration of WMA Geneva 1948- last revised in France 2006 (leave asides the Hippocratic oath).
He specifically disobeyed the stipulations "I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life; " & "I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;".
The law should take its course though if my memory serves me right our honorable PM Nawaz Sharif has already made a deal during his visit to our good US friends. The deal was sealed.
Dr. Afridi helped US friends to get to OBL. I have no sympathy for the deceased but Dr. Afridi by acting in the way he did brought the medical profession into disrepute which had serious repercussions on colleagues who were killed in retaliation.
He not only did that, by virtue of his actions if so proved he stands to share the fallen blood of our colleagues who were killed whilst carrying out polio vaccinations. He directly is responsible for the mistrust in vaccination programs now plagued with fears. The overriding duty of care of any medical doctor is to his patients. He failed in that duty & in my eyes failed the medical profession.
If proved- the behavior is reprehensible & unbefitting of a doctor.
The least punishment is for the medical degree conferred to be revoked, the PMDC to initiate legal proceedings against him.
As for the fallen blood of colleagues vaccinating - the courts are the only competent organs to decide how the actions contributed/ directly/ indirectly, to their deaths.
Insofar as OBL is concerned, I don't shed tears. I will not however recommend a civilian medal of valour or a medal in service to humanity.
In the final analysis - history will judge him & the final Judgment will be on The Day of Resurrection.
A true hero.
Very sorry to note Dawn.com that u really only publish views you personally like- especially anything against either Imran Khan or PTI. No point wasting time on topi drama. Twitter is fine. It's a big space to express ones views to a global audience. very sad. Typical Pakistani attitude- deeply entrenched which will never change. u ppl r fine with leeches like hidhussein who have seriously personal grudges. Allah Hafiz
My dear Dr Afridi you choose the wrong side pal.. In nature there are no rewards and no punishment, it is all about the consequences
No rights for traitors. Simple.
Mr. Shakeel, here are your rights: You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire.
Before you can talk about rights, they come with responsibilities. Responsibilities as a citizen of a nation, when you disregard your responsibilities, you have no authority to talk about rights.
Comments (13) Closed
I can't wait to hear from him when he is out of the country.
Dr Afridi, You are an intelligent and a decent human being; extremely courageous man with high morals and yet you expect justice in Pakistan?? What's wrong with you?? May God Bless You.
I think the new chief justice have already taken a notice of that and hopefully he will get his rights as a prisoner.
A condemned Spy asking for rights, lets see if he deserves what he is asking for?
He should get the legal rights but what he did was a disgrace.
Stabbing your own country in back!
OK, so you helped a foreign nation attack your country, and that does not sound like treason to you? What about telling all those parents that you immunized their children, and you did not. still feel like a respectable Pakistani citizen and a physician?
You did more harm then all the insurgents put together and then some.
Dr. Shakeel Afridi has rights under the legal system. He should be allowed access to his lawyer.
As a medical doctor if he did what he did - collected DNA using polio vaccination program as a cover, then as a medical doctor myself I think he disobeyed the widely accepted unsaid oath adopted in the declaration of WMA Geneva 1948- last revised in France 2006 (leave asides the Hippocratic oath).
He specifically disobeyed the stipulations "I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life; " & "I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;".
The law should take its course though if my memory serves me right our honorable PM Nawaz Sharif has already made a deal during his visit to our good US friends. The deal was sealed.
Dr. Afridi helped US friends to get to OBL. I have no sympathy for the deceased but Dr. Afridi by acting in the way he did brought the medical profession into disrepute which had serious repercussions on colleagues who were killed in retaliation.
He not only did that, by virtue of his actions if so proved he stands to share the fallen blood of our colleagues who were killed whilst carrying out polio vaccinations. He directly is responsible for the mistrust in vaccination programs now plagued with fears. The overriding duty of care of any medical doctor is to his patients. He failed in that duty & in my eyes failed the medical profession.
If proved- the behavior is reprehensible & unbefitting of a doctor.
The least punishment is for the medical degree conferred to be revoked, the PMDC to initiate legal proceedings against him.
As for the fallen blood of colleagues vaccinating - the courts are the only competent organs to decide how the actions contributed/ directly/ indirectly, to their deaths.
Insofar as OBL is concerned, I don't shed tears. I will not however recommend a civilian medal of valour or a medal in service to humanity.
In the final analysis - history will judge him & the final Judgment will be on The Day of Resurrection.
A true hero.
Very sorry to note Dawn.com that u really only publish views you personally like- especially anything against either Imran Khan or PTI. No point wasting time on topi drama. Twitter is fine. It's a big space to express ones views to a global audience. very sad. Typical Pakistani attitude- deeply entrenched which will never change. u ppl r fine with leeches like hidhussein who have seriously personal grudges. Allah Hafiz
My dear Dr Afridi you choose the wrong side pal.. In nature there are no rewards and no punishment, it is all about the consequences
No rights for traitors. Simple.
Mr. Shakeel, here are your rights: You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, what you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult with a lawyer and have that lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire.
Before you can talk about rights, they come with responsibilities. Responsibilities as a citizen of a nation, when you disregard your responsibilities, you have no authority to talk about rights.