Pakistan Accuses Dr. Shakil Afridi Of Running Fake Vaccination Program For CIA (VIDEO)

ISLAMABAD -- A Pakistani doctor accused of running a vaccination program for the CIA to help track down Osama bin Laden should be put on trial for high treason, a government commission said Thursday, a move likely to anger U.S. officials pushing for his release.

Dr. Shakil Afridi has been in the custody of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency since soon after the May 2 American raid that killed bin Laden. The agency was humiliated and outraged by the covert American operation and is aggressively investigating the circumstances surrounding it.

Afridi's fate is a complicating issue in relations between the CIA and the ISI that were strained to the breaking point by the bin Laden raid.

U.S. and Pakistani officials have said Arifdi ran a vaccination program in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad where the al-Qaida leader hid in an effort to obtain a DNA sample from him. Afridi was detained in the days after the U.S. operation. He has no lawyer.

A Pakistani government commission investigating the raid on bin Laden said in a statement that it was of the view that "a case of conspiracy against the state of Pakistan and high treason" should be registered against Afridi on the basis of the evidence it had gathered. It did not elaborate.

Such a charge carries the death penalty.

The commission, which interviewed Afridi and the head of the ISI, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha this week, has been tasked with investigating how bin Laden managed to hide in the army town of Abbottabad for up to five years, and the circumstances surrounding the U.S. operation. It is headed by a Supreme Court justice, and its members include a retired general, a former diplomat, a former police chief and a civil servant.

It is unclear why the body would make this recommendation public, and whether it will lead to charges being filed against Afridi.

The commission was formed amid intense international pressure for answers over how bin Laden was able to live undetected for so long in Abbottabad, an army town close to the capital. Skeptics will say it is unlikely to achieve that goal, given the power of the ISI and the army, and may well end up a whitewash.

The vaccination ruse has been widely criticized by aid agencies, which have said it could harm legitimate immunization programs in Pakistan. The vaccination team was reported to have gained access bin Laden's house in Abbottabad, but that it didn't confirm bin Laden's presence there.

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Associated Press writer Adam Goldman contributed to this report from Washington DC.

Comments

[Kiranitisme]

06:37 AM on 10/07/2011

So is it not time to officially declare Pakistan, a state sponsor of terrorism? Or is it still an "ally"?. Why not CNN bring back Dick Cheney and ask him this question?

[Dominick Fanelli]

08:27 PM on 10/06/2011

If Pakistan puts the doctor on trial for treason, makes me think they knew bin Laden was in their country. If indeed he helped he did the world a big favor, taking out one more terriorist.

[m66]

08:14 PM on 10/06/2011

The vaccines themselves were not "fake," but the wording raises a relevant point. The use of a medical team working with children as cover for the operation has helped to further discredit the effort to vaccinate them against deadly diseases. That one aspect is regrettable, as it may very well lead to more sickness and suffering among kids. I don't have any better ideas, but it was callous and short-sighted.

[m66]

08:52 PM on 10/06/2011

And I'm not justifying the doctor's trial for "treason"--we all know where the idea came from, and it wasn't Pakistan. We bear collective responsibility for it here.

[bellmotor]

02:34 AM on 10/07/2011

a treason act would be endangering the Pakistani's Goverment security and or a military plot but a secretive raid into Abbottabad's compound would be considered an air and ground raids of Pakistani sovereignty without prior Pakistani permission and most likey they were aware that there was a mission being carried out but not exact nature however Pakistan had agreed over US drones attacks but would not consider the seal team as a drone attack considering some of Pakistani' ISI and other fanatical elements who support the Talebans and most likley provided the
hide out of OBL and now angry at the US and the doctor who carried out a false vaccinaton program shows they have not been on right course with the US and that's alsowhy Afghanistan's goverment turning to India since they can no longer trust Pakistan.

[Little Princess]

08:10 PM on 10/06/2011

"The vaccination ruse has been widely criticized by aid agencies, which have said it could harm legitimate immunization programs in Pakistan."

If true, treason indeed. Treason against all children that could die or be crippled from pöop and other diseases. Treason against all aid workers who patiently and bravely went into dangerous regions and convinced people of having their children vaccinated, for bringing those in danger who go there to help children.

[Little Princess]

06:11 AM on 10/07/2011

correction: ".. children that could die or be crippled from polio...", sorry

[MelO86]

06:45 PM on 10/06/2011

By calling him a traitor, is Pakistan admitting they were harboring Bin Laden on purpose?

[czs5056]

06:11 PM on 10/06/2011

so, helping to get the number one most wanted person is treason? nice to know where their loyalties lie.

[BannedSgt]

03:19 PM on 10/06/2011

So helping get rid of OBL is considered high treason in Pakistan? Good to know, I hope our president pulls aid tomorrow and gets the drones out by Sunday.

[jhNY]

03:43 PM on 10/06/2011

I'm with you, but neither of the items you want to see take place will, any time soon.

[ryanraymond321]

02:55 PM on 10/06/2011

So seemingly the one man in all of Pakistan who has the guts to help find Bin Laden is being charged with treason and may possibly be executed? Pakistan ceases to amaze me lately and I am more convinced than ever they are playing both sides.

[Pleroma]

08:40 AM on 10/07/2011

"They". "They" are so pesky, but very useful for shielding one from thought.

[opusstumper]

02:20 PM on 10/06/2011

Well, now that his name is all over the World Wide Web, Pakistan can rest assured knowing that the man will probably be dead before the trial is over. Attention people of Paksistan. The United States gave you 2 Billion Dollars last year. Thanks for the help with Bin Laden.

[blutopie]

02:20 PM on 10/06/2011

This traitor should have been flown out on the stealth chopper with the rest of the team

'first do no harm', indeed. Lock him up

[BannedSgt]

03:35 PM on 10/06/2011

So you are saying the Pak government was working with OBL...this is why he is a traitor right?