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'Bin Laden doctor' jailed for militant link, says court | 'Bin Laden doctor' jailed for militant link, says court |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Pakistani doctor was jailed last week for alleged links to a banned militant group - not for helping the CIA to track down Osama Bin Laden, the text of the trial court's judgement shows. | A Pakistani doctor was jailed last week for alleged links to a banned militant group - not for helping the CIA to track down Osama Bin Laden, the text of the trial court's judgement shows. |
The BBC's Orla Guerin says the papers add a bizarre twist to the case. | The BBC's Orla Guerin says the papers add a bizarre twist to the case. |
It was originally thought that Shakil Afridi had been imprisoned for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence. | It was originally thought that Shakil Afridi had been imprisoned for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence. |
Dr Afridi's brother, Jamil, has dismissed the allegations as "rubbish". | |
Shakil Afridi was jailed for 33 years by the tribal court in a closed hearing. | |
His family have said the treason charges against him are also baseless. | |
The text of the judgement - released on Wednesday - shows that Dr Afridi was convicted for providing support and medical treatment to members of the militant group, Lashkar-e-Islam. | The text of the judgement - released on Wednesday - shows that Dr Afridi was convicted for providing support and medical treatment to members of the militant group, Lashkar-e-Islam. |
The judgement says there is also evidence that he was involved with foreign intelligence agencies, and this should now be considered by other courts. | The judgement says there is also evidence that he was involved with foreign intelligence agencies, and this should now be considered by other courts. |
Our correspondent says that whatever the official reason for his conviction, many in Pakistan will believe that Dr Afridi was jailed for helping the CIA locate Osama Bin Laden. | Our correspondent says that whatever the official reason for his conviction, many in Pakistan will believe that Dr Afridi was jailed for helping the CIA locate Osama Bin Laden. |
'Changing tune' | |
The text of the judgement makes clear Dr Afridi was tried for "anti-state activities". The controversial hearing was held behind closed doors under Pakistan's tribal justice system. | |
Legal experts say the judgement released by officials raises many questions, not least whether or not it is the judgement which was agreed last week. | |
"Nobody knows if this is the judgement that was first written," said lawyer Babar Sattar. "There was no open trial, and no public record." | |
The 33-year sentence handed down to Dr Afridi - for supporting a militant group - appears unusually severe. | |
"It certainly looks like an unusually long sentence for that kind of offence," said Mr Sattar. "I think this might be a shrewd move to confuse the debate in the United States." | |
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad say that the court action was unusual because no militant leader or abettor has been tried and jailed in Pakistan's tribal regions. | |
Meanwhile, Jamil Afridi has told the BBC that suggestions that his brother supported Lashkar-e-Islam were "rubbish". | |
He said that far from giving a donation to the militants, Dr Afridi had been kidnapped by them and forced to pay a ransom. | |
"The authorities keep changing their tune," said Jamil Afridi. "Last week they were accusing him of something else. What kind of justice is that?" | |
In an earlier BBC interview, Jamil Afridi said that he was concerned for his safety and the safety of his brother. | |
There is some speculation that Wednesday's release of the judgment - which will almost certainly be the subject of a legal appeal by Dr Afridi's lawyers - may have been done under pressure from Washington. | There is some speculation that Wednesday's release of the judgment - which will almost certainly be the subject of a legal appeal by Dr Afridi's lawyers - may have been done under pressure from Washington. |
On Friday a US Senate panel cut $33m (£21m) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing - $1m for every year of his sentence. | On Friday a US Senate panel cut $33m (£21m) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing - $1m for every year of his sentence. |
US officials say Dr Afridi was instrumental in tracking down the al-Qaeda leader and have called for his release. | US officials say Dr Afridi was instrumental in tracking down the al-Qaeda leader and have called for his release. |
It is not clear if any DNA from Bin Laden or any family members was ever obtained, or whether the doctor even knew the identity of the target. | It is not clear if any DNA from Bin Laden or any family members was ever obtained, or whether the doctor even knew the identity of the target. |
His conviction has added to strains in US-Pakistani relations, already under pressure because of continuing US drone strikes in Pakistan and because of Islamabad's refusal to re-open overland Nato supply routes through Pakistan to Afghanistan. The routes were shut down in November since a US airstrike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border. | His conviction has added to strains in US-Pakistani relations, already under pressure because of continuing US drone strikes in Pakistan and because of Islamabad's refusal to re-open overland Nato supply routes through Pakistan to Afghanistan. The routes were shut down in November since a US airstrike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border. |
Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. | Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. |
His presence in Pakistan embarrassed Islamabad, which argued that the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty. | His presence in Pakistan embarrassed Islamabad, which argued that the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty. |