Jamil Afridi, brother of Dr Shakil Afridi who has been sentenced to 33 years for allegedly helping the CIA track Osama bin Laden, on Thursday said his brother had no links with any banned outfit. Talking to reporters, Jamil said his brother was kidnapped by the banned outfit in April 2007 and released after a ransom of Rs 1 million. “We arranged the money by selling jewellery of my sister-in-law and taking loan for the release of Shakil,” Jamil said. He said Shakil Afridi provided treatment to his patients on humanitarian basis Samiullah Khan, lawyer of Dr Shakil Afridi, said he would file an appeal against the decision of the political administration in the commissioner’s court today (Friday). “Our case is strong,” Samiullah said, adding that “we will take the stance that all allegations against Dr Afridi are unfounded”. He said the assistant political agent did not have powers to award 33-year imprisonment to Dr Afridi. He said the APA did not gather evidences, nor recorded the statements of witnesses before announcing the sentence, which was against the parameters of justice.
