No prisoner swap for bin Encumbered hunt physician, says Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s foreign ministry has dominated out the doubtless for a « prisoner swap » with the United States for Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani physician who helped the CIA discover down al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Encumbered to a compound in the north of the nation.

The denial came basically based on Pakistani media reviews that Afridi modified into once both being ready for a prisoner alternate or modified into once facing safety risks, following his most modern transfer to a completely different penal complex.

« I’m no longer responsive to any deal relating to Dr Shakil Afridi, » said Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal at a press briefing on Thursday.

« On behalf of [the foreign ministry], I’m able to guarantee you that he is rarely any longer being handed over to US. »

Afridi has been in Pakistani custody since 2011, and modified into once convicted the following three hundred and sixty five days by a tribunal to 33 years in penal complex for assisting the Lashkar-e-Islam armed group, his lawyer, Qamar Nadeem, told Al Jazeera.

Afridi has denied the costs and is in the course of of appealing the choice. His sentence modified into once diminished to 23 years in 2014, his lawyer said.

No costs bask in been brought in opposition to him relating to his assisting the CIA in administering false vaccinations to members of bin Encumbered’s household in the northern metropolis of Abbottabad in present an explanation for to verify their identities.

US officers bask in since confirmed Afridi’s position in the operation, with US President Donald Trump vowing during his election campaign to stress Pakistan to liberate him.

US special forces launched a covert raid into Pakistani territory in May presumably well 2011 to get rid of or demolish bin Encumbered. The al-Qaeda chief and 9/Eleven mastermind and several friends bask in been killed in the operation.

That you just can factor in penal complex transfer

On April 27, Afridi modified into once moved from a penal complex in Peshawar, where he has been held since 2012, even supposing no official reason modified into once given for the step to be taken, his lawyer said.

« Final Friday he modified into once shifted, however we bask in been no longer officially told where he modified into once moved, » said Nadeem. « Neither his household, nor his lawyers know where he is in the present day. »

The within ministry didn’t reply to a quiz for statement.

The transfer brought on sections of Pakistan’s press to speculate that Afridi modified into once both being ready for a prisoner swap with the United States, or modified into once facing safety risks.

« We’re responsive to reviews that Dr Afridi has been transferred to 1 other penal complex, » a US Embassy spokesperson told Al Jazeera.  

« We inquire of the authorities of Pakistan to capture all valuable measures to be definite Dr Afridi’s safety », the spokesperson said.  

The subsequent hearing in Afridi’s charm is due on May presumably well 31, however the case has confronted constant delays, with authorities prosecutors usually no longer showing or asking for previous odd time from the tribunal.

Afridi modified into once sentenced by a 4-member tribunal of civil administrators below the Frontier Crimes Law, a colonial period regulation that rights activists bask in long argued violates voters’ predominant rights.

His charm has been ongoing earlier than a separate tribunal.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazerea’s Digital Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim