Detained US citizen turns out to be an FBI agent
89
Pakistani and US officials said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, who was caught yesterday carrying bullets and a knife by security officials at the Jinnah International Airport, is being held under anti-terrorism charges in Pakistan, according to a Washington Post report.
The suspect was produced in a local court on Tuesday on the charges involving violation of local anti-terrorism laws that proscribed carrying arms and ammunition on a plane.
The judge in his ruling of the case said that the suspect should remain in custody of security officials until Saturday so the issue could be further probed.
The US officials confirmed that the agent was temporarily in Pakistan to help the government investigate corruption.
The officials requested withholding of the agent’s name, as according to them the issue was sensitive in nature.
It was also contended by the US officials that the agent had forgotten a loaded gun magazine in his luggage and wasn't ‘armed’.
Spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, Meghan Gregonis said that the US officials were closely coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to solve the issue.
The US citizen, identified as Joel Cox Eugene, had been carrying 15 bullets of 9mm calibre along with a magazine when Airport Security Force officials checked him. He was going to Islamabad by a PIA flight (PK 308).
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (89) Closed
May 07, 2014 10:33am
This agent deserves to be treated according to the laws of the state, Pakistan.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:35am
Imagine an ISI agent at JFK with the same items.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:45am
Since when did the GOP invited the FBI for investigate corruption inside Pakistan? This incident is just another slap on our sovereignty which these officials breach every now & then with & without GOP consent.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:48am
United States will stop aid and Pakistan will release the FBI agent.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:49am
So lets see how smart is PML-N this time.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:58am
its O.K...............you will be freed soon, as always.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:03am
Pakistani police has not yet even figured out how to hand-cuff a terrorist who was caught with loaded weapons & a knife. In this case photo of an arrested FBI agent, his both hands are cuffed not only in front of him instead of being tied at his back but also surprisingly both hands cuffed separately & very easy for him to punch all of those escorting Paki police dudes. I can not understand, why in the face of all the terror that these Pakistan security forces have been going through on daily bases, they yet can not even think of saving themselves from any danger & not yet learnt how to be not at the mercy of these terrorists even when they are in custody. Why these Pakistani security forces want to keep making fool of themselves in front of the entire world ?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:07am
US had to send the dumbest FBI agent to Pakistan to act in this manner or is he trying to provoke another Raymond Davis like fiasco.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:10am
The crime of this FBI Agent is far lesser than that of the CIA operative Rimond Davis who killed Pakistani citizen and even than sent back to the US. Let us watch and see what the country can do once the pressure will develop. By the way who issues VISAs to the FBI Agents?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:11am
Another Raymond Davis caught. Test for Nawaz Govt????
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:17am
janay day bachay ko..
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:20am
Keep him behind bars and he should be proceeded against as per the prevailing law of the land. There should be no exception, regardless of him being a US citizen and/or FBI agent. The big question is "does the current government has the guts to proceed against him and bring him to justice?" With one slight pressure from Washington, our politicians and the government will succumb and will have the agent released and sent him back home on a plane.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:26am
" The US officials confirmed that the agent was temporarily in Pakistan to help the government investigate corruption." .. Was he going to kill the corrupt?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:28am
Washington Past report!!! How a FBI agent can forget to unload his bag before boarding. If he was insecure in Karachi he must went to court or police.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:43am
"The US officials confirmed that the agent was temporarily in Pakistan to help the government investigate corruption."
hahaha Pakistan will now fight corruption with bullets and knives. how innocent!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:44am
Good job ASF. Let's see what the FREE JUDICIARY do and let's see what the Ruling GOVERNMENT do.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:45am
Fighting corruption with bullets and a knife.....
The Americans certainly have a technique to deal with all issues!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:48am
Looks like he stepped on some one's tail while investigating corruption. Good thing for him he is an American and will be let go after a while.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:50am
Let him go now for that will happen eventually just adding a lot more embarrassment to Pakistan. Hard talk now and as always zilch in the end when it comes to American wanton behavior!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:04pm
So we need someone from FBI to come and tell us who is doing corruption here.. and if that was the case, why they want his ID witheld. Sell that story somewhere else.
I suspect the real motives were against the democratic interests of Pakistan and will never been unearthed, just like they let the last murderer go.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:04pm
Law should be blind here also !!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:11pm
the agent will be back in US soon. Pak govt just waiting call from Us....
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:26pm
"The US officials confirmed that the agent was temporarily in Pakistan to help the government investigate corruption"
Shame on the government for inviting FBI agent to investigate corruption in Pakistan, this is what has been claimed by the US officials. All sold out, absolutely sold out, the cursed souls of Pakistan.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:29pm
@Tamza , 86 years prison sentence just like Dr. Afiya Siddiqi, would fit the crime of this FBI agent.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:30pm
I feel bad for the kid. Look at the guy walking in front of him with his belly hanging out like that, you'd think that our law enforcement teams would be in tip top physical condition but I guess that is a fear tactic. well done. Bellys up
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:30pm
Law should be made to permanently imprison spies caught in the land of pure!!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:35pm
treat him as Americans treat any pakistani in their state if he is found in such crime.. do not let him make fun of Pakistani law again like remond devis did previously
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:38pm
PUT HIM IN JAIL !
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:39pm
Nothing will happen to him. He is an FBI agent and above all a U.S. citizen and Pakistan lacks the balls to prosecute him under the law. He will quietly be handed over to the U.S.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:40pm
A FBI agent is needed to investigate corruption in Pakistan?what a joke.
A deaf and dumb person can prove corruption in this country as it is open and without any fear of accountability,why bothering FBI?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:43pm
"It was also contended by the US officials that the agent had forgotten a loaded gun magazine in his luggage and wasn't
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:43pm
Another Raymond Davis caught.Well done Pakistan security forces.Dont let this man run away.
He should be treated the same way as a Pakistani citizen would be treated in USA after breaking the law.
He must receive punishment according to the law of the land and should not be allowed to hide behind diplomatic immunity.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 12:59pm
Stop begging America and live with respect and dignity.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:10pm
People posting comments here don't know the reality. If you take money from US, your are oblige to listen to them. US sees Pak as beggars. Know the reality.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:24pm
@Tasmia
yes interesting
He can forget to unload when boarding, and forget to load the gun when in a fight.
FBI should hire Punjab Police to train FBI :P
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:32pm
If this could have happened in China or Russia, the matter would have been solved in hours and this FBI guy would have never seen sunlight again. Does Pakistan has any laws at all?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:34pm
KUDOS to ASF for nabbing this guy trying to sneak through airport security
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:37pm
Where is the MEDIA on this issue now??? Pakistan interior ministry should take strong actions and should treat the criminal with the laws of Terrorism.
If a Pakistani go there with bullets imagine how will they treat US? How will they highlight such scenario on all their media channels.. and will defame Pakistan.. we should do same..
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 01:55pm
@kepler - 8B provoking. Testing Mr Nawaz to see how far they can go with him.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:00pm
so what if he is a FBI agent?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:01pm
@charles So Mr. Charles from US or Mars... talking of reality, aren't you. Well, reality is that because of your jingoism our economy has suffered a loss of some USD 150 billion in just last 10 years. So better you learn the reality. There were 100,000 deaths of civilians because of US in Afganistan wars with USSR and Afgans, which are priceless. And reality is that US has proved gross liar when ground was prepared to invade Iraq. CHECK YOUR REALITIES!!
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:08pm
Good to see that Pakistani agencies didn't turn a blind eye when they caught a US citizen. Now they need to show their assertiveness to US by not releasing him and trying him as per the law of the land. US will for sure create a lot of pressure on Pakistan , but they shouldn't give up.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:13pm
This is what CNN has to say about the same incident.
"The agent was visiting Pakistan as part of an assignment to provide training to local police, the official said."
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:17pm
he will be exchanged for release of Afia. Good Job ASF and sure Judiciary will do well
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:44pm
@abbas I fully agree with you, and where is the famous hood? This criminal looking Yankee must be given a true taste of Pakistani police 3rd degree tactics and I assure he will come out with nothing but truth.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:45pm
@Afghan This CIA agent should be interrogated fully and the law enforcement should recover the weapon as well and must find out the local collaborators who are involved in anti state activities. He needs 'chitraul' at the highest level. Its a national shame that up til now they have not been able to recover the weapon.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:46pm
There are tens of millions of pakistanis who carry fire arms illigally and government doesn't bother! not a big deal if an american is caught with weapon. May be he was of the opinion that "while in Karachi do as the Karachians do"
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:47pm
He just wanted to go back to his home country.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 02:57pm
Good work - let see which officer get suspended and see if his fate be similar to Mr.Davis or else....
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:01pm
Quot "The US officials confirmed that the agent was temporarily in Pakistan to help the government investigate corruption"
I bet they meant corruption of US officials in Pakistan and his fate change after he landed.
Good one from US Spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, Meghan Gregonis
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:22pm
@Sunil not so simple. Only one way out of Afghanistan, since Iran and Russia have blocked the others.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:23pm
@AKA they are so smart- not knowing what to do as usual, they will come up with a great idea- lets ask the Americans, they must have experience in these kind of situations, then we will follow their advice.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:25pm
@ Zia, Pakistan has a multinational agreement with nation states such as France, UK, Germany, USA and others under the umbrella of Interpol and especially with the US Department of State and the Department of Justice under the ATAP: Anti Terrorism Assistance Program and ICITAP: International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program
This man was probably in Pakistan as a trainer for ICITAP, which has been helping Pakistan law enforcement agencies since 2001 and they regularly send trainers to Pakistan. Google ICITAP and you will find out that they help governments worldwide in developing criminal investigative, tactical and crisis response capacity within the host nation's law enforcement apparatus.
It is an honest mistake, the government should let him go.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:26pm
FBI, umm! Not CIA, the unwelcome agency.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:27pm
@Zahoor, which media are you talking about? That media which is involve in defaming Pakistan army and I.S.I? They are just working to defame Pakistan, US is not in their list.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:27pm
@charles who is begging, we are fighting US war, and we should get out of it.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:52pm
This influx of foreign spies and terrorist pouring into Pakistan has to stop. Government of Pakistan simply cannot afford to look the other way. Let this man rot in Pakistani jails, there must be strong deterrence and examples set for any future misadventures. No more Raymond Davies please.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 03:56pm
I am wondering how did he pass the security check in the US airport with these bullets. Is there more to this story?
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 04:04pm
@Tamza In that case GEO will suspend all its transmission to would have provided a live minute to minute coverage with agent photo on screen and Kamram Khan giving a verdict that agent was in US for terrorist activities and Aamir Liaquat praying and thanking God for protecting of US people.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 04:31pm
hahah....Nice joke. FBI agent in Pakistan with bullets & knife investigating corruption. I think US officials cannot fabricate a better cover story for their spy.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 04:34pm
Indian embassy nor any other ever got any threats.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 04:41pm
This agent will finally leave Pakistan. For so many reasons. Corrupt political leaders, incompetent elite in Politics in Pakistan, also because you are beggars and beg money from USA, how can you have your say in any matter at all?
If you can handover Kansi and others, a female scientist (or doctor, sorry I forgot her name) who is in their custody in USA, why do you have to return this person to USA. You can punish him so severe that no other FBI agent would dare do this to Pakistan again. But.......under pressure......stories will be concocted and finally he will just go back easily.
This is time for PM and authorities to prove how cheap Pakistani blood is, or how much you care about innocent Pakistanis dying on daily basis.
Anti Terrorism courts should make a law of beheading such people. Nothing is wrong in death penalty. These bullets that he carried be used on him.
But this will not happen. I am writing again and again that Pakistan is going towards a disaster. If courts have no courage to punish him, hand him over the public whose innocent family members have lost their lives due to so called Allies. They know what to do with this person.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 05:14pm
No use he will also be set free just like raymond davis. Karachi is full of these american agents anyways look at the acres of land the government gave to them at new karachi compared to the old american consulate
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 05:28pm
@shuaib bro this is @charles democracy, you either buy people or its one rule for you and another for them.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 05:56pm
Lets not blow this out of all proportions. These were only bullets, he didn't carry a gun. Off course it was wrong as per Pakistani law. But the sad part is that hundreds of terrorists are roaming free and government is only taking action against those who are fighting terrorists.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:07pm
You mess with him you ARE messing with USA.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:08pm
He WILL be released soon, criminals never get punished in our country: bigger the criminal is, easier for him to get away. Our justice system has become joke, terrorists/ target killers being released without any punishment.
Its a great shame.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:09pm
Hopefully this episode will be handled in a more civilized way and not like that of the Indian diplomat Khobrogade who was breaking US Law of exploiting her Indian maid by making her live like a slave.
The US-Pakistan relationship is ever-lasting, despite its hiccups. The Indian-US one was a one-night stand, and will become even more sour under the extremist Modi.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:12pm
@abbas kd
the system used in Pakistan is prepartition British Raj system same as our justice system, centuries old. Lot of things have changed since then but obviously not in Pakistan. No wonder hardened criminal manage to escape with ease.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:13pm
@Ansari
off course, sooner than many think.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:38pm
@AKA They are very smart, they will happily handover this culprit back to US. Wait and see they don' t have the guts to disappoint their BOSS.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 06:40pm
@Anees Most stupid and childish statement made by US Officials.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 07:53pm
He hasn't really committed any crime. Carrying bullets is not really a crime.They should have just given him a slap on the wrist and let him go. Now this will turn into another embarrassment for the government which is totally unnecessary.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 10:54pm
Funny how many commentators have already found this man guilty of espionage and major crimes and want him punished, before any investigation or trial.
Recommend
0
May 07, 2014 11:35pm
You took money from Saudi and in return, you forced to allow saudi prince to hunt hundreds of endangered birds in your country.
You took money from US and in return, you allow US agents to kill your people freely and roam around in your country with carrying arms.
Money talks :)
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 06:45am
Big deal. He forgot a magazine in his luggage. The man is an FBI agent who carries these things all the time. What a big deal if he forgot it to remove from his baggage before entering the airport? Pakistani police is trying to make a mountain out of mole and you are accessary to it knowingly, The man is there to help your country. Do you think he had bad intentions by sneaking in few bullets without firearm? Come on.
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 09:46am
well done !!
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 11:22am
Did the same policemen escorted OBL into Abbotabad?
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 03:14pm
Pakistanis will get the maximum political mileage out of this incident, that done he will be released. How serious is this offence to carry immo. without a gun ? Is carrying "spy equipment" an offence in Pakistan? It all appears to be a small fire in a frying pan and treating it like a major international is going to harm just one country, that is Pakistan . It surely invite US retaliation, Pakistanis travelling to US will feel the heat in due course. When US missed up the Indian diplomat, they felt the instant heat from Indian authorities. Is Pakistan trying to copy that ? One thing is very clear, you afford to antagonise your benefactors.
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 03:38pm
Strange, this person was remanded in Police Custody till Saturday for interrogation and today on Thursday he is bailed out two days before that date, where is Law?
Recommend
0
May 08, 2014 06:34pm
It was as expected, How will Pakistan get guts to treat all alike!
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 12:15am
The person responsible for issuing visa should be in court to explain how he allowed to issue these visa's without even knowing who these people are.
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 01:34am
Joel Cox's background needs to be thoroughly investigated. Jen Psaki may be trying to cover up his true origins.
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 07:51am
@Anees Is there a problem with that?
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 08:12am
@Afghan This man is in Pakistan to help train law enforcement officials. Pakistan should be grateful for this assistance. Corruption in Pakistan is so widespread that you need all the help you can get. Don't cut your nose off despite your face!
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 01:16pm
@Paladin In law "ignorance is no excuse" hence the Crime was committed however due to pressure the Yankee was released from custody even before the next hearing !
Recommend
0
May 09, 2014 09:06pm
What harm can bullets do without a gun? And what use is a knife against guns? This is simply overblown fear mongering on the part of the media and who knows who else. You have thousands of militants armed to the teeth killing citizens at will, and you get upset over one idiot like this? Come on, folks, put your eyes back on the target and forget this guy. He is not your enemy.
Recommend
0
May 10, 2014 01:30am
This agent be tried and punished per Pakistani Law.
Recommend
0
May 13, 2014 02:18pm
If a Pakistani was caught with arms in US he would be given the Title terrorist. A US caught here with arms is called FBI. If no serious action is taken shame on you Pakistan Government.
Recommend
0
