Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
BY JIM FLINK ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
The Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find — and kill — Osama bin Laden, has been
sentenced to 33 years in prison. Now, media outlets like The Telegraph report U.S.-Pakistani
relations are at their worst point in years.
Here’s The Wall Street Journal with more on the case of Dr. Shakil Afridi.
“For Pakistan, this was treated as a national security breach, treating this guy like he
was a traitor, obviously the U.S. officials have a very different view, they see him as
a hero.
Pakistani news outlet DAWN quotes a defense ministry official as asking the U.S. to respect
its laws, while at the same time outlining the punishment involved, saying Afridi was
sentenced to 33 years in prison.
“... 10 years imprisonment each (for) … conspiracy to wage war against Pakistan or depriving
it of its sovereignty … concealing existence of a plan to wage war against Pakistan … and...
condemnation of the creation of the state and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty)
... He was sentenced to an additional three years in jail (for) … assaulting (a) president,
governor, etc, with intention to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power...”
Pakistani officials base those charges on the fact, Afridi worked undercover with the
CIA to locate Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts in Abbotabad. CBS News explains, Afridi set
up a vaccination program hoping to net bin Laden and his relatives.
“Pakistani officials say Afridi’s vaccination ruse, without their permission, helped the
U.S. confirm the location of the world’s most wanted terrorist.”
The Telegraph notes, the sentence was issued, not by a federal Pakistani court, but by a
more localized, tribal court, which carries with it, a different brand of justice.
“Afridi was not entitled to a lawyer but was given a chance to defend himself and has
a right to appeal the verdict … The United States has given Pakistan more than $18 billion
in assistance since the September 11, 2001 attacks, but US officials have persistent
concerns that some elements of the establishment have maintained support for extremists.”
In an opinion piece for Fox News, a contributor says, the U.S. must do more to pressure Pakistan
into freeing Afridi, and demanding more accountability.
“Pakistan has done little to rein in the Al Qaeda affiliates in the country who not
only keep bin Laden’s dream alive, but organize attacks to kill Americans in Afghanistan.
Further, Pakistan still can’t explain why their country is the preferred vacation destination
for high-level Taliban leaders. Rather than make amends for bad behavior, Pakistan is
demanding more from the U.S. while it delivers less and less.”