Loud Thinking

Posts Tagged ‘afridi’

All the PML’s governments Hullabaloo may not be in the love of A.S (Dr.Aafia Siddiqui) but to placate the the American government on S.A (Dr. Shakeel Afridi).

An an eye opening exposé by the daily “Pakistan Observer” published today as below:

Smoke screen

US pressure working well
Ground preparing to let Shakil Afridi go, Afridi’s jail sentence set aside

Liaqat Toor

Friday, August 30, 2013 –

Islamabad—Though the Government has denied the recent approval by the Cabinet to sign the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of sentenced persons has anything to do with the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, but the evolving events have indicated that ground is being prepared for his happy voyage to Washington.

It was officially said the Cabinet approval will pave way for repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US, but it is a smokescreen with hidden agenda of releasing Dr Afridi who helped the US to track down Osama Bin London by launching a fake vaccination campaign in Abbottabad. At that time the US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had confirmed Dr Afridi worked for CIA. Since then Washington has been putting pressure on Islamabad to let Afridi go. Diplomatic sources told this scribe during Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visit to Islamabad, he discussed with Pak authorities for his release.

The events have started developing in sequence after the Cabinet approval of the Convention as on Thursday Commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Sahibzada Mohammad Anees suspended the 33-year sentence of Afridi on the plea that the previous judge in the case had exceeded his authority and referred back the case to Political Agent of Khyber agency for retrial.

Afridi’s lawyer pleaded his client has no link with Lashkar-e-Islam, rather he was kidnapped by Lashkar-e-Islam in 2008 and ordered to pay one million rupees. At that time, the court had not entertained evidence relating to Shakil Afridi’s involvement with the CIA saying it was not under his jurisdiction.

Raymond Davis, a US agent responsible for killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore was finally travelled back to the US when Washington put pressure on Islamabad and found a way for his release.

The US will not a bandon Afridi who worked for CIA and helped them to kill their the most wanted enemy in Abbottabad.

The Prime Minister has directed the Interior Minister to fast track the process of the signing of the convention as after that the US government will be requested under the relevant provisions for the repatriation of Dr Aafia presently undergoing imprisonment in a US jail. Dr Afridi will also be the beneficiary, diplomatic sources said.

Afridi’s jail sentence set aside

Tariq Saeed

Peshawar—The FCR commissioner on Thursday set aside the sentence of Dr Shakil Afridi, who had allegedly facilitated the Abbottabad operation to hunt Osama Bin laden on May 2, 2011, a decision that may lead to opening new dimensions of the episode of Afridi who is enjoying full backing of the US government.

The Commissioner Peshawar Sahibzada Mohammad Anis, who also holds the charge of commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) ruled that the previous judge in the case exceeded his authority. He directed the Political Agent Khyber Agency to conduct new trial of Afridi who is undergoing 33 years imprisonment in central jail Peshawar amid tight security measures. He further directed that Dr Afridi could not be released before the orders of the Political Agent. This changed Dr Afridi status from convict to accused and fresh trial will be initiated against him.

Dr Afridi, who was arrested 20 days after the Abbotabad operation, was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment under 40 FCR in the court of Assistant Political Agent (APA) Khyber agency in 2011 apparently for having links with the militant organization and banned religious outfit Lashker-i-Islam.

Giving verdict on the appeal filed by Dr. Shakil Afridi lawyer against his conviction in the appellate court, the FCR commissioner observed that the court of APA has no authority to give his verdict in such a trial where as the lawyer of Mr. Afridi had also contended that the APA had no power to power to award punishment for more than seven years and that his client was not given opportunity for his defense. Shakil Afridi’s lawyer Samiullah Afridi advocate said whatever decision the Political Agent Khyber Agency may give against his client, he has the right to file appeal in the appellate court adding there was no need to shift Dr. Shakil Afridi to the Political Agent’s jail since number of prisoners from Khyber agency have already been going imprisonment in the Central Jail Peshawar.

It will be pertinent to mention here that the new Government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa had further beefed up security around central Jail Peshawar, that is housing the doctor from Khyber agency as well as a few Taliban militants, in the first week of August.

Though apparently the step was taken following an intelligence alert and militants attack on a Dera Ismail Khan (D I K) central jail in the last week of July 2013, the insiders believe the PTI led government was more concerned about Shakeel Afridi as it has vehemently been asking the Federal Government to shift the former to some other place.

Sources believed that the Central Jail Peshawar does not only face threats from the militants specially the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but also from the “well-wishers” of Shakeel Afridi who have repeatedly been calling for his release. Those benefited by Dr. Shakeel Afridi in getting closer to the Osama Bin Laden, the man continued to shatter the nerves of Americans for long years, may not face much difficulty to penetrate into Central Jail Peshawar and whisk away their facilitator with in no time.

Shakeel Afridi who, is alleged to have carried out a fake vaccination campaign to obtain DNA of Osama bin Laden and his family for the Americans facilitating the American Navy seals to get hold of OBL, it may be recalled had also gone on hunger strike last year when security around him was tightened extraordinarily after his reported interview with the representative of American Fox TV who somehow mysteriously managed to have access to him in Peshawar Jail.

Likewise, though the lawyers of Shakeel Afridi have constantly been denying his role in the Abbotabad operation, the American administration has been all praise for the doctor from Khyber agency and expressed their concern about his well-being so many times.

Even the spokesperson of US foreign ministry Victoria Noland is on record to have said that her country wanted early release of Dr. Afridi and protection to him adding detaining Afridi and putting him on trial would send wrong message to the world and that they were taking up issue with the Pakistani government.

Both US foreign minister as well as Defense minister have raised their concern about Dr. Afridi detention and called for his release which, many believe, is on the card.

Heartiest congratulations to Pakistani cricket team and PCB, on consecutive all cricket formats victories, against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket teams.

Now the real test of planning, talent and abilities, awaits our cricket team and it’s management, against English team in UAE series, next month.

In this regard, the PCB may consider as below, a recipe for winning against England.

1. Positive Attitude.  Defensive minds are neither creative nor cooperative. Until  and unless we only focus on nothing short of winning (and consider a DRAW as a DEFEAT) no planning and preparation, will give us the desired results.

2. Planning. The team management in particular and players in general must be told that PLANS never fail, rather we fail to PLAN. And for planning, the first and foremost thing is the mind set, totally focused on goal achievement. In order to achieve the impossible, it is precisely imperative, to think the unthinkable.

3. Video Analysis. All concerned must sit and watch strengths and weaknesses of English as well as, Pakistani players. This will not only help in overcoming our weaknesses, but will also help in field settings, determining bowling line and length, knowing weakness of opponent players, against fast and spin bowling etc.

4. Infusion of Motivation. Since, cricket is a mind game, a motivation specialist (NOT psychiatrist) must be attached with the team, with the task to convert our players, from being simply dynamic persons to a DYNAMITE personality, so that every player must perform, to his peak ability. In my opinion, the best person in the country, for this job is Ms Andleeb Abbas.

5. Team Selection. (a) The success of any project depends on the right selection of it’s team members. The enemy of the BEST is often the GOOD. In fact, now it is said that the only difference between winning and losing organizations is the quality of it’s people, which includes their character, belief, habits, personal motivation and abilities.

(b) We should not only select players on merit or past performances but, one or two batsmen and bowlers from domestic circuit should also be selected by just anticipating, that given a chance, they can be stars overnight with their sheer fearlessness and big game temperament. Just like as a shrewd jeweler, we should pick a diamond from the rubbles.

(c) Having said that, Shahid Afridi (basically on his bowling and fielding abilities and forgetting his batting ability, because in cricket bowlers win matches) and Umar Akmal (if he is given the wicket keeping job the team becomes more balanced), must be selected for the Test teams as well.

(d) Similarly, our wicket keepers on show till now have been just average players. We must find some really outstanding wicket keeper, for which the legend Mr. Wasim Bari should be assigned the task, to find out the person who can be categorized as find of the tour.

6.Team Management. The team management must be told that business as usual, will not deliver in this most tough series. They should know that management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.