White House asks Pakistan to release jailed doctor Afridihe White House tod

[Durrak]

The White House today asked Pakistan to release Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the CIA track down al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Afridi, who was arrested immediately after the May 2, 2011 operation by US commandos that killed bin Laden, was convicted for treason over alleged ties to the Lashkar-e-Islam militant group.

Moments before President Barack Obama was scheduled to meet visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his Oval Office, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that Obama would be pressing for Afridi's release arguing that his imprisonment is unjust and unwarranted.

"Our position on Dr Afridi has long been clear, and I'm sure we will again make it clear during this visit. We believe his treatment is both unjust and unwarranted. He should be released," Carney said in response to a question.

"Bringing Osama bin Laden to justice was clearly in Pakistan's interest, and the prosecution and conviction of Dr Afridi sends exactly the wrong message about the importance of this shared interest. So this is something that we have, in a sustained way, made clear to Pakistan and will continue to do so, including during this visit," Carney said.

The issue was also raised by top US lawmakers when Sharif met them yesterday.

According to the Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Sharif told the Congressmen that Afridi is "not a hero" and his fate would be decided by the courts.

 

[Durrak]

WASHINGTON: The Head of Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, has demanded the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif to release Dr Shakeel Afridi - ARY News reports.

On the other hand, Pakistan is talking of stopping drone attacks and trade instead of aid. But, the United States of America never forgets the ones working for its interests, that is why the Chairman of the US Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, during his meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif, demanded him to release Dr Shakeel Afridi.

It was already a known fact that the United States considers Afridi, who aided in tracking down Bin-Laden, its friend and the US politicians have been asking for his release quite often. But, now the demand has become official.

Dr Shakeel Afridi, who was an assistant political agent of the Khyber Agency, was sentenced to 33 years of rigorous imprisonment for extending terms with foreign secret agencies.

Whereas, Dr Afridi's family is of the view that the US authorities did not keep the matter a secret and admitted it openly.

Now the question arises whether the Government of Pakistan will agree to set Afridi free in return of Dr Aafia's handover and abandoning persisting drone strikes in Pakistan, for this, the people will have to wait and watch.

US demands PM Nawaz to release Dr Shakeel Afridi