The family of Dr Shakil Afridi, who had organised a fake vaccination campaign in Bilal Town of Abbotabd to trace al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was moved to an undisclosed location for security reasons, Pakistan Today has learnt. Dr Shakil Afridi has been in the custody of intelligence agencies for two months for his involvement in a vaccination campaign sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to gather the DNA information of bin Laden’s family in March 2011.
Dr Shakil had launched a private vaccination drive in Bilal Town and nearby areas from March 15-18 and 21-23 April without informing the authorities concerned a source in the Health Directorate told Pakistan Today. Source said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has now directed all the healthcare organisations, private or government-run, to take permission before launching any drive.
A source in Khyber Agency told Pakistan Today that Dr Shakil Afridi belonged to the Malikdin Khel sub tribe of the Afridi tribe and hailed from Bara area of Khyber Agency.