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A Pakistani doctor who faces the death penalty for his role in the CIA operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden is to be nominated for the US Congressional Gold Medal, the country's highest civilian honour.
Shakeel Afridi (left) played a part in the CIA operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden Photo: AP
By Rob Crilly, Islamabad10:58AM GMT 14 Feb 2012 Comments
Shakeel Afridi was detained three weeks after the US special forces raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader in the town of Abbottabad last year.
The doctor had set up a fake hepatitis immunisation campaign in an attempt to obtain DNA from bin Laden's children and confirm the presence of the world's most wanted man in a fortified compound barely 30 miles from the Pakistani capital.
On Tuesday, Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, said he would be introducing a bill to recognise Dr Afridi with the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Dr Afridi's acts to help the United States were extremely valiant and daring," he said. "All Americans owe him our most sincere gratitude for helping to execute the terrorist who murdered thousands of innocent Americans."
However, charities working in Pakistan have criticised the fake vaccination programme. They fear it will lead to suspicions that aid workers are working for foreign intelligence agencies compromising their security in a country awash with anti-American sentiment.
And Dr Afridi faces an uncertain future.His wife and children have disappeared from their home in the north-western city of Peshawar.
A Pakistani government commission set up to investigate how bin Laden was able to live for five years undetected in a military town said last year that "a case of conspiracy against the state of Pakistan and high treason" should be registered against Dr Afridi – crimes that carry the death penalty.
A campaign is now also under way to secure him American citizenship in an attempt to protect him from Pakistani law.
Last month, Leon Panetta, the US Defence Secretary, said he was concerned for his safety.
"I'm very worried about exactly what the Pakistanis did with this particular individual who actually provided intelligence which was very useful in relation to this operation," said Mr Panetta in an interview with CBS News
Pakistani doctor to be nominated for Congressional Gold Medal over Osama bin Laden raid - Telegraph
Shakeel Afridi (left) played a part in the CIA operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden Photo: AP
By Rob Crilly, Islamabad10:58AM GMT 14 Feb 2012 Comments
Shakeel Afridi was detained three weeks after the US special forces raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader in the town of Abbottabad last year.
The doctor had set up a fake hepatitis immunisation campaign in an attempt to obtain DNA from bin Laden's children and confirm the presence of the world's most wanted man in a fortified compound barely 30 miles from the Pakistani capital.
On Tuesday, Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, said he would be introducing a bill to recognise Dr Afridi with the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Dr Afridi's acts to help the United States were extremely valiant and daring," he said. "All Americans owe him our most sincere gratitude for helping to execute the terrorist who murdered thousands of innocent Americans."
However, charities working in Pakistan have criticised the fake vaccination programme. They fear it will lead to suspicions that aid workers are working for foreign intelligence agencies compromising their security in a country awash with anti-American sentiment.
And Dr Afridi faces an uncertain future.His wife and children have disappeared from their home in the north-western city of Peshawar.
A Pakistani government commission set up to investigate how bin Laden was able to live for five years undetected in a military town said last year that "a case of conspiracy against the state of Pakistan and high treason" should be registered against Dr Afridi – crimes that carry the death penalty.
A campaign is now also under way to secure him American citizenship in an attempt to protect him from Pakistani law.
Last month, Leon Panetta, the US Defence Secretary, said he was concerned for his safety.
"I'm very worried about exactly what the Pakistanis did with this particular individual who actually provided intelligence which was very useful in relation to this operation," said Mr Panetta in an interview with CBS News
Pakistani doctor to be nominated for Congressional Gold Medal over Osama bin Laden raid - Telegraph
