Peshawar Commissioner Tariq Jamil on Saturday reserved verdict on Dr Shakil Afridi’s appeal against his imprisonment. The judgment will be announced on March 15.
Dr Afridi’s lawyers Latif Afridi, Samiullah Afridi, Qamar Nadeem and Ijaz Mohmand gave arguments in the commissioner’s court. Jamil is appellant judge of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). The state was represented by additional and deputy advocate generals.
Dr Afridi had appealed to the FCR tribunal to return the case to the Khyber Agency political agent for re-trial with assuring defence rights to him. However, the tribunal rejected the appeal and sent the case back to the commissioner’s court.
Samiullah Afridi expressed satisfaction over the proceedings and hoped of a positive decision. “Whatever might be verdict but our arguments and point of view was listened with patience in the commissioner’s court,” the lawyer told Pakistan Today.
He said that the political agent, without giving defence right to Dr Afridi, had issued the order and sentenced him to 33 years’ imprisonment.
He said that according to the constitution and UN charter of human rights, every accused had the defence rights. On such grounds, the lawyer requested the court to ensure these rights to Dr Afridi.
Afridi was apprehended on the charges of extending support to the CIA in tracking down al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden through a fake polio vaccination drive in May 2012. He was produced before the court of the Khyber Agency assistant political agent and was sentenced to 33 years rigorous imprisonment under the FCR.
Later, he appealed to the Peshawar commissioner to set aside the judgement. The appeal was accepted by slain commissioner Muhammad Anees.
