ISLAMABAD, July 10: The first Pakistani released from the United Statet detention centre known as Camp X-Ray at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba is demanding $10.4 million compensation from the American government, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Mohammad Sagheer is reported to have sent legal papers to the US departments of state, justice and defence with their copies sent to the International Red Cross and the interior ministry in Islamabad, his lawyer said.

He said that the papers had been sent through the US embassy.

“If there is no response within a reasonable time I will take steps to institute legal proceedings either here or in the United States,” he said.

Mr Sagheer was flown back to Pakistan on Oct 27 last year after several months of detention in the Camp X-Ray over suspicions of having links with the Al Qaeda network.

“Sagheer was innocent and he suffered a lot. During his detention he was subjected to physical torture and mental harassment. He should be compensated by the US government which it promised when he was released.”

The US authorities had told Mr Sagheer they would compensate him but only gave him $100, he said.

The 60-year-old father of 16 was arrested along with scores of other Pakistanis by the pro-US Northern Alliance forces after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.—AFP