WASHINGTON: A key US lawmaker has asked President Barack Obama to demand from Islamabad the release of Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani physician who has been sentenced 33 years into prison on treason charges for helping CIA in tracing whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
"President Obama should demand, as a condition of future financial assistance, that the Pakistani government grants Dr Afridi an unconditional pardon and release him without delay," said Congressman Tom Rooney, a member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees.
He said he was outraged that the Pakistani government, a supposed US ally, would try Dr Afridi for heroically assisting in the search for Osama bin Laden.
"Dr Afridi had the courage to step up and help us track bin Laden and bring him to justice, while the Pakistani government did little to assist in the search for the world's most wanted terrorist," Rooney said.