shakeel-afridi-AFP-670

shakeel-afridi-AFP-670

This photograph taken on July 22, 2010 shows Dr Shakeel Afridi attending a Malaria control campaign in the Khyber tribal region. — Photo by AFP

PESHAWAR: The law enforcement agencies Saturday evening seized a 'Thoraya' satellite phone form Dr Shakeel Afridi, a surgeon allegedly recruited by the US intelligence to help find Osama bin Laden, in Central Jail Peshawar and have arrested four police commandos on guard at Dr Shakeel Afridi’s cell in the jail, official sources said.

The official intelligence sources said that the authorities have arrested four police commandos who were on duty; After interrogating, one of them, confessed that he had provided satellite phone to Dr Shakeel Afridi.

The sources said that Dr Shakeel Afrid had made more than 68 calls from the satellite phone set and most of these calls were long-distanced calls, but the authorities are assessing the satellite phone data to ascertain the country location.

To a query, the sources said that after a controversial interview with Fox News, a US-based news channel, a few weeks back, the authorities had installed special equipment around Central Jail Peshawar to check Dr Afridi’s activities and had traced some calls from his jail cell, following which the authorities conducted investigation with the four policemen. One of the  policemen, the sources said, admitted of his involvement in providing Dr Afridi the satellite phone.

The sources said that it’s likely that the interview might have been conducted through the satellite phone but the authorities are assessing the facts.

The jail authorities, on contact, did not give any detail about the incident.


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Comments (27)

winston
October 14, 2012 8:05 am
I will second that
Mahmud
October 14, 2012 7:58 am
Why should he be celebrated? He was running a fake polio program in exchange for money and US citizenship. He had no clue that he was helping in the capture of Usama Bin Laden. Polio campaign has come to a halt because of his actions. Besides, it is unethical for a doctor to be involved in such activities.
Saad
October 14, 2012 7:13 am
calling him a doctor is like cursing the medical profession. there is NEVER any good reason to betray your own profession and betray people who trust your professional title.
Arif Choudhary
October 14, 2012 7:12 am
Soon you will see that the arrested policeman will get a foreign country visa and flies out of Pakistan.
Amanullh Rabbani
October 14, 2012 6:49 am
He has been sentenced on the fact that he helped an external spy agency, not because he helped tracing Osama. As per the law of Pakistan or any country, anyone helping a foriegn spy agency without the prior approval of gov, is considered a traitor. Thats it and as simple as it is. If he had any info about Osama or any other terrorist, he should have shared it with Pak Government!!!
Fair Reforms
October 14, 2012 6:23 am
Why are Pakistani government and Army punishing Afridi for geting rid of the master criminal instead of honoring for his courage and vision? It is an open admission that they are on the terrorists' side.
ABDUL KADER AHMED
October 14, 2012 5:48 am
The administration installed special equipment to check his activity but could not monitor his 68 phone calls. How strange!
Sher Bad Shah.
October 14, 2012 2:18 am
Why are we so surprised, give your head a shake, just think very, very hard, every Politician, every top Official including anyone and everyone has either already been sold or for Sale, just name the price. This is WHO and WHAT have we become. There are thousands of Dr. Afridi's running around the country, doing their deeds under our very watchful eyes and we ALL know very well.
Syed Ahmed
October 14, 2012 12:37 am
The Jail Suprindent and others responsible for Dr. Afradi should be severly punished. They may be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan and given a death sentense.
Cricketmania
October 14, 2012 12:29 am
you can say that again, Khan! I completely agree with you. He is not the only one, i don't know how many people out there who are selling the country for their own self. Its difficult to catch them. Hang them as soon as you find them. Period....
Concerned Citizen
October 14, 2012 12:14 am
How come is he a traitor? He should be called a hero because he assisted in getting rid of the most wanted terrorist in the world!!!! I don't understand why you Pakistanis don't thank the U.S. for what they have done for Pakistan and the rest of the world by killing Osama bin Laden? He and his followers (Pakistani Taliban) have dessimated Pakistan because of their futile war and just last week by shooting Malala. Do you want their terrorism to continue in Pakistan and the rest of the world? Wake up from your ignorance in the name of so called Ghairat !!! I wish there were more people like Dr. Afridi to be handing over terrorists on a daily basis to the authorities - wouldn't that be good for Pakistan?
Waqas
October 13, 2012 11:30 pm
if he helped in Osama's shooting than he is a hero
Shame on you
October 13, 2012 10:55 pm
And we blame our politicians to be currpot. Infact 95% of Pakistani's are Corrupt . Given a chance to these 95% ppl in Pakistan and they surely will do such things and will put blame on the goverment or anyone they can think of.
kausik
October 13, 2012 10:44 pm
This is hilarious we all know in any country including usa money talks.This doctor has done nothing wrong and the judicial system in third world countries is under strong arms of govt.If Pakistan is sincere they should allow international court in Hague examine the evidence against this Doctor for the alleged crime.OBL was an embarrassment to Pakistan and an evil leader who is responsible for TTP emergence and malala's victimization and Pakistan is better off without OBL.
muthu
October 13, 2012 10:29 pm
This man should be celebrated and declared a national hero by well meaning pakistanis. Instead you guys shower flowers on people like Qadri while the doctor who helped eliminate the villain who tarnished the reputation of islam is being humiliated. Learn to identify your enemies first.
muhammadasifpatentexaminer
October 13, 2012 10:25 pm
Like Dr. Afridi many people are in our society. Muhammad Asif Patent Examiner
Lee Chang
October 13, 2012 10:24 pm
America and world community shoud take care of this doctor. He is in Jail because he helped to find out the world's most wanted terrorist Osama. He also revealed the real face of Pakistani govt and its agencies to the world. May be that is his criminal act in pakistan.
Saad (DXB)
October 13, 2012 9:16 pm
Correction.. It's 'Thuraya' and not 'Thoraya'
Hussain Shah
October 13, 2012 8:39 pm
DR Shakeel Afridi you should be behind bars all your life because you know WHY, you sold the country we love and CIA is planning to hire local agents to break up in and escape , that is very sad for your life . I think you have family behind so do not do another mistake , this time our angry people and intelligence will not let you do that and it is better for you to not to do any mistake stay inside and rot . You trade your country for $ shame on you sold the country we all love. and how much insult the professional people took because of you DR......
Lisa
October 13, 2012 7:47 pm
C'mon Pakistanis - the doctor is not the bad guy - OBL was. OBL was not even a Pakistani citizen. He was the terrorist. The dr didn't flag the US choppers in. You are just upset cause you got embarrased and using him as the scapegoat. It is htis attitude that is responsible for the shooting of Malala. Make up your minds - don't make it complicated
Well Informed
October 13, 2012 7:32 pm
I am glad he has the cell phone with him. A person who hasn't been given a fair trial, and jailed, for providing information about a terrorist is quite absurd to begin with. He shouldn't be there in the jail. Should have been awarded a medal, for leading to Osama who led to the deaths of millions of people. Whose holding him and why?
Honest babe
October 13, 2012 6:45 pm
Why is he a traitor ? Was Osama bin Laden Pakistan's state secret?
Ishrat salim
October 13, 2012 6:16 pm
Thoraya set is the most expensive set and can only be provided by a foreign country ?..Americans ! and our police once again has proved to be salable commodity.....like our politicians.....it was the duty of the local govt home dept - jail authorities to unearth this...but our intel agencies this time has proved to be on their toes.....
ABlitzer
October 13, 2012 6:02 pm
Wow, that's some world-class security right there! I wonder what other amenities are available in Pakistani jails in addition to Satellite phones, etc?
asim
October 13, 2012 5:48 pm
This is the height of corruption and negligience. one can understand how deep the malaise haspenetrated. No wonder, if one day we come across the breking news of his escape from jail.
anil gupta
October 13, 2012 5:41 pm
So that means, interview actually took place.
khan
October 13, 2012 5:24 pm
This man is traitor and should face the consequences because for money he can do any thing