In May 2012, Afridi was first convicted of treason by a Pakistani court and sentenced to 33 years in prison. He was later charged for having links with Islamist militants. Pakistani authorities have since kept Afridi in solitary confinement in a secret prison. Only few officials can meet or talk to him. Afridi is not allowed to speak to his family or the media.
Bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011 by US Special Forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in a covert operation. The Pakistani government claims that prior to bin Laden's assassination, Afridi had been working as a spy for the CIA distributing fake polio vaccinations in Abbottabad in the hopes of finding a sample of bin Laden's DNA.
Observers say the decision to imprison Afridi was legally flawed and was more of a punishment for helping the CIA.
For years, Pakistan had denied having any knowledge on the whereabouts of bin Laden - at the time, the world's most-wanted terrorist. That bin Laden was discovered in Abbottabad close to PMA Kakul, the Pakistani army's prestigious military academy, caused much embarrassment to both the military and civilian leadership of Pakistan.
Afridi's case has also had a negative impact on Pakistan's drive against polio.
The Pakistani Taliban say the polio eradication campaigns in the country are un-Islamic and are being used by the US as a cover for spying. The Islamists blocked anti-polio inoculations in the restive tribal region of Waziristan and some other parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. They have also killed scores of vaccination workers in the past few years.
"I am not very optimistic that Afridi will get justice. Unless the FCR is abolished, there cannot be any hope for justice. He is likely to stay in jail for years or even decades if US-Pakistan ties do not improve," Qamar Nadeem Afridi said, adding that their families have been living under threat for years.
...
Guys, what do you think?
..
..................
Follow Edeson News on Instagram.
@EndyEdesonNews
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
Endy Edeson
@Frank, even as he helped the CIA, it's not that easy for America to come in as there is already a brawl with Pakistan
Olufemi Adekunle Rotty
He is a dead man if he comes put without the necessary precaution,what
David Femi
Sincerely we must b very careful in d kind of whistle we blows