Pak hard-line party chief wants treason case registered against Osama doc Shakil Afridi

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief, Syed Munawar Hasan, has called upon the Pakistan government to register a treason case against Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hunt down Osama bin Laden, and try him accordingly.

Hasan has expressed deep concern over the setting aside of Dr Afridi's sentence.

According to the Nation, in a statement, he said that the conviction of Dr Afridi had been set aside and his case had been sent to the Political Agent for retrial.

Hasan said that Afridi had only been tried for links with banned terrorist organizations, including Mangal Bagh.

He said the accused was never charged with helping the US operation in Abbotabad, which was a clear case of treason.

According to the report, he said it was the trickery of the previous government that Afiridi's actual crime was intentionally hidden and a minor case was framed against him.

He said it was the responsibility of the incumbent government to frame a treason case against Afridi.

He said the US was trying hard for Afridi's release and handing over to the US.

However, he said, the government should show courage and refuse to yield to the US pressure and try the traitor, the report added.