Amid growing criticism within the country about the denial of basic rights to the doctor who helped the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) zero in on al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday demanded a fair trial for him and an opportunity to defend himself.
In a statement, the Commission said that while concern about the security of the country is valid, it cannot be made the basis of denying rule of law to anyone. Stating that the trial of Dr. Afridi “falls well short of the due process standards on many counts – not least because the core principle of natural justice has been ignored and he was denied due legal assistance’’ – HRCP added that trying him for treason is also controversial. “His actions may well have been prompted by the declared policy of the State to fight all forms of terrorism in sincerity.’’
The Commission has also questioned the rationale in trying Dr. Afridi in a tribal court and charging him under the colonial vintage Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR); given that the ‘supposed offence’’ had taken place in Abbottabad. “Such treatment has given rise to perceptions that the only reason he was tried by a tribal court was to deprive him of the rights guaranteed under the constitution of Pakistan.’’
According to the Commission, the government should ensure that Dr Afridi gets a fair trial and is afforded an opportunity to defend himself against the charge brought against him. “That is every citizen’s right and there is no reason why Dr Afridi’s case should be an exception.’’
Meanwhile, lawyers of the Peace Movement – a civil society group working against terrorism in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa – told AFP that they would appeal against the tribal court’s verdict which sentenced Dr. Afridi to 33 years imprisonment on Wednesday.
Dr. Afridi helped the CIA collect the DNA sample of bin Laden by conducting a fake vaccination drive in the Abbottabad area. With this sample, the U.S. intelligence agency was able to confirm his presence in the fortified house.
Ha Ha, when billions are given 33 million is a change which America can keep.. Pakistan is the problem - not the solution to the world of terror. Any serious attempt to modenize them has to start from questioning thier political establishment. As long as America feeds their pocket, circus will go on and poor will suffer more
Its Simple-> America follows..."Dushman(Laden) ka dost(Pakistan) hamara dushman"
and Pakistan follows..."Dost(Laden) ka dushman(The Doctor) hamara dushman"!
The entire Amercian establishment is united and up in arms against the Treason verdict handled over to Dr.Afridi. My poser to them: roles reversed what would you do, give him the highest civillian honour, I doubt it. If you valued his contribution in eleminating Osama, you should have spirited him and his family off to US under witness protection programme. Now due to the information that US leaked, he is in prison and his family (close and extended) are in the cross-hairs of the terrorist guns. Well done America. Copule of more exposes like this and the terrorists will win lying down.
If the repeated public profession of Pakistan of its commitment to
fight global terror meant any thing, it should have decorated Dr.
Afridi for helping in the elimination of OBL. Instead he is sent to
prison for 33 years. This clearly reinforces the widely held
conviction that Pakistan is hunting with the hound and running with
hare. Naturally it is now facing denial of dole from US.We are now
reminded of famous statement of Bhutto “If India builds the bomb, we
will eat grass or leaves, even go hungry, but we will get one of our
own.” Now Pakistan can say "If US stops aid we eat grass or leaves
even go hungry but we will not get perturbed"!
This makes it quite clear that the Islamist country Pakistan is more
comfortable with defending the terrorist AlQaeda and their supporters
than the modern free Western world. What is an outrage is that we are
sending any money to them. Why should the American people , many of
whom struggle to make a living and pay their taxes, have to send their
hard earned money to the likes of a anti American country like
Pakistan? The Pakastani will always side with their own Islamist kind
because in their eyes we are "the infidels" and should not be catered too. We should be concentrating on de nuclearizing that country and stop ALL FINANCIAL AID.
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