Shakil Afridi: From government doctor to anti-state agent
Shakil Afridi talks with people outside a building at an unknown location in Pakistan.—Reuters Photo
Biography:
Afridi graduated from Khyber Medical College, Peshawar in 1990 and worked as the doctor in-charge of Khyber Agency in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata).
Espionage, conspiracy and sentence:
Shakil Afridi is a Pakistani doctor who allegedly ran a fake vaccine programme, however, in real was collecting DNA samples to assist the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in tracking Osama bin Laden.
According to a news report in BBC, Afridi was arrested 20 days after May 2, 2011 on charges of treason, from Hayatabad, Peshawar.
According to the commission, after initial interrogations, Afridi confessed that he was collaborating with the CIA and conducted a fake polio vaccine drive in Bilal Town, Abbottabad from March 15-18 and April 21-23, 2011 to try and get DNA samples of the residents living in the compound which was bin Laden’s hideout. Afridi was assisted by two female nurses in order to gain entrance into the compound and it is believed that at least one of the nurses was able to enter the compound for obtaining DNA samples. However, it is still unclear whether the DNA tests proved to be consequential for the Americans and the raid.
According to Brig Shaukat Qadir, a retired army brigadier and former vice president of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Afridi initially was unaware of who the prime target of US’s investigation was. He communicated with an officer by the name of ‘Peter’ who delegated all the work to him. However, towards the end of April 2011 Afridi became suspicious and figured out that US was after a high-value target in Abbottabad.
Leon Panetta, who was the head of CIA during the raid, demanded Pakistani government to release Afridi immediately, however, the intelligence agencies in Pakistan ruled out any such possibility. Hillary Clinton also made an official call to President Asif Ali Zardari to request for Afridi’s release.
With the report on Abbottabad raid to be published by the four-member Abbottabad Judicial Commission, led by Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal still pending, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in imprisonment on May 23, 2012 for conspiring against the state.
The verdict was passed under a colonial-era legislation that deprives the defendant a right to hire a lawyer. The verdict was handed down by an official of Khyber Agency in consultation with the council of elders.
The FIR against Afridi was lodged under Section 40 of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). The conviction was handed-out under clauses 121, 123,123-A and 124 of the FCR. Under the first three clauses, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison each whereas under the last clause he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, raising the total to 33 years.
Zahir Shah Sherazi, a native of tribal region and Dawn Newspaper’s Reporter, said that, “the reason why he was tried under section 40 of the FCR was primarily because he hailed from Malik Din Khel which is a part of the tribal region. And I must also tell you that if he had been tried under the constitutional law he would have been awarded with death penalty.”
However, Wajihuddin Ahmed, a former Supreme Court judge whilst speaking to the Guardian, had contradictory views when he said that the FCR did not cover Abbottabad where the writ of regular Pakistani law runs.
“Everyone is entitled to be tried in an ordinary court and in ordinary way and I cannot understand why they would do that if the offence—if it is an offence at all—was committed in Abbottabad,” he said.
Afridi still has the right to contest the verdict by filing an appeal to the FCR commissioner and tribunal; however, his best hope still lies in the presidential pardon.
It is also important to mention that senior officials from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had previously claimed that the agency was working in collaboration with the CIA and played an instrumental role in helping Americans to catch al Qaeda members.
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, a year after the raid admitted in an interview that the Pakistani government and army were both involved in the raid. However, President Zardari denies all such claims.
If he is such a hero, and not a traitor, he should have shared this information with Pakistani Intelligence, in order to help them and bring some well deserved recognition and respect for the suffering Pakistan has faced by helping the USA, in the war against terrorism, which to start with, was not Pakistan's war in the first place.
And if during USA's lock down of Afghanistan, OBL or any other militant escapes into another country, it is the failure of US army, as some one sneaked pass under their nose.
Dr. Afridi is not a hero at all, he is just another opportunists, who unfortunately took a bigger bite than he can chew.
even not
Mr. Afridi conspired against the State by compromising with a foriegn agency. That is an act of treason. It is immaterial wether he provided information on X or Z.
I dont care who and how OBL get killed. Important thing is that he is dead and its biggest loss to all Talibans and other extremist groups who fight against nation for any cause what so ever.
Dr. Shakeel did something which our governemnt supports publicly and internationsly but when he did it, they convicted him of treason. Shame on me and my government. What is purpose of war on terror if killer of enemy commander in chief is crime.
Unfortunately in Pakistan, Islam has two versions. Islam A and Islam B. In one version people are moderate with tolerance to all modern aspects as music, media and other and will not kill and ant in name of jihad. On the other end there is Islam B with Zero tolerance. They deny all modern life activities and don't accept the REMIX version of Islam. They are extremist and want to adopt Islam from A to Z like talibans. I hope US uses its super natural ties to escape him from prison.
If he is such a hero, and not a traitor, he should have shared this information with Pakistani Intelligence, in order to help them and bring some well deserved recognition and respect for the suffering Pakistan has faced by helping the USA, in the war against terrorism, which to start with, was not Pakistan's war in the first place.
This is really amazing for a common man like me to understand that what is happening in our Homeland. At one place we are American ally in war against terrorism and stratagic partner. We have received billions of Us Dollars for this war and Have made a lot of sacrifices at the same time we are considering a person(Shakil Afridi) as a traitor who helped CIA to track Usama Bin Laden,who was most wanted terrorist. If we (Pakistan) think that OBL was a terrorist then what is the meaning of punishing a person who helped. I don't know what message we want to send the outside world by punishing Shakil Afridi. In my humble it will strengthen the propaganda of our enemies that we were hiding OBL.
Think of this, why is it that all criminals who commit some crime in some part of the world and manages to escape from crime scene finds refuge in Pakistan, rightly labeled as "safe Heavens for Criminals"
Secondly, why is it that no politician makes it to the top slot in Pakistan unless he or she has lived and spent some period of his or her life in "The Great Britain" and then on exit (most of the time kicked out) from office finds refuge in "The Great Britain".
Dr Afridi should be treated as national hero, he had done what ISI and army could not do.
Govt was helping CIA find OBL and getting money for this help. Dr Afridi did the same to earn his money. The Government of Pakistan is justifiably furious on Dr Afridi, because, helping CIA is not privatized in Pakistan. It is the responsibility of the state, how dare a private citizen do this help and get some money? It is not privatized as yet.
I think this is not the concern of a Dr. and a terror it is the concern of a Pakistani who help the the agency who is terrorizing us by using fake names like OBL and others it is not fare we Pakistani hate these type of agencies and the people who are not true with Pakistan If this Dr. have information about OBL he should share with Pakistani agencies
Helping a foreign intelligence agency in a home country is an act of treason in any country (No matter what the reason). Don't understand what the whole fuss is about.
I doubt my comments will be posted, but let' see… Let's explore the fundamental logic behind this court judgment – Now, is it fair to assume Pakistan decided to offer "wholehearted" support US/Nato to clear terror sanctuaries (of course in return for $$$) ? Yes…? Is it fair to assume that ISI/Pak government was expected to transparently/wholeheartedly cooperated with CIA/other agencines to help find top terrorists (including OBL, of course for a price)? Yes…? Let's give the benefit of doubt to Pakistan here – so, if ISI/Pak government was "wholeheartedly" helping US/Nato find OBL, which was its obligation (due to payments from the US), which they couldn't, but then this doctor "singlehandedly" finds OBL complying with Pakistan's obligation to US and Nato…so Pak government should be happy or upset…..? He did what ISI was expected to do anyways, yes…? Logically, if everything we assumed was right….he should be given top civilian honor of Pakistan? Yes…? But the judgment punishes him. If you put the equation together, does this tell you anything…?
Who are those powerful actors with in state ? think they r supporters of extremists and killers of thousands of people's in pakistan and rest of innocent humans on the globe . govt should think about this .
He's a traitor. Why the heck did he deal DIRECTLY with a foreign intelligence agency at his own bypassing his country's own intelligence agency, establishment and government? Who's he supposed to be loyal with? US or Pakistan? Pakistan should have dealt with it and shared the the info with US, coordinated and carried out operation way we want, alone or with them? its good that the Most Wanted Man in the world was hunted. But the methodology adopted both by US and now by Afridi is extremely discouraging disappointing and ridiculous. moreover now every vaccination and health measure would seem a fraud and fake in an alreadly ailing country from so many diseases all because of doctors like Afridi. The equation is simple
Afridi-ISI-CIA= Patriotism
Afridi-CIA= Treason
He's a traitor and traitor must be punished and made an example for others.
There is an even simpler equation in your deluded mind is:
ISI = Patriotism
What happens when ISI interferes in domestic politics?
What happens when ISI refuses to follow the PM's oreders?
What happens when ISI supports terrorists which the nation has designated terrorist (e.g. LeT)?
Does it mean:
ISI = Treason?
I know Shakeel, since Medical College, if possible, find out from his class fellows, he was one of the notorious, selfish greedy person. Find out from Dr. Farasat what kind of person he was.
He's a traitor. Why the heck did he deal DIRECTLY with a foreign intelligence agency at his own bypassing his country's own intelligence agency, establishment and government? Who's he supposed to be loyal with? US or Pakistan first? Pakistan should have dealt with it and shared the the info with US, coordinated and carried out operation way we want; alone or with them. This would have brought better name to Pakistan in the world. Its good that The Most Wanted Man was hunted, but the method adopted both by US and Afridi is extremely discouraging. Let me put the equation like this
Afridi-ISI-CIA = Patriotism
Afridi-CIA = Treason.
He's a traitor. And the traitor must be punished.
Why not.
If you directly deal with Pakistani agency, you dont know who you are dealing with. The man in ISI may be ISI loyal or OBL's loyal. You may end up in death chamber but US for sure will nail him down.
Maybe the doctor was under severe threat of getting killed so the govt immediately transfered him to a safe location and spread the news that he will stay inside for 33 yrs. Its a possibility that shakil is already in US under some other name and identity while US criticises the govt to make it look real..!!!
what was the judge thinking before giving him a sentence was he on something i pity the people of pakistan who have a judicial system like yours.