ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track and kill Osama bin Laden has launched a hunger strike from his prison cell, his lawyer and family said Monday.
Shakeel Afridi has been languishing behind bars for years since his fake vaccination program helped US agents track and kill the Al Qaeda leader in 2011.
“It is to protest the injustices and inhumane attitudes being committed against him and his family,” his brother Jamil Afridi told AFP after meeting with Afridi in a prison in central Punjab province.
His attorney Qamar Nadeem also confirmed the hunger strike.
Afridi was jailed for 33 years in May 2012 after he was convicted of having ties to militants, a charge he has always denied.
His sentence was later reduced by 10 years.
Some US lawmakers have branded the case as revenge for his help in the search for the Al Qaeda chief.
The 2011 killing of Bin Laden caused massive embarrassment for Pakistan and particularly its powerful military.
For years Afridi has had no access to his lawyer, while his appeal against his prison sentence has stalled with scheduled court appearances repeatedly delayed.
His family has also complained of being targeted and harassed by authorities over the years.
US President Donald Trump vowed during his election campaign that he would order Pakistan to free Afridi, but since taking office has been largely silent on the issue.
The comments sparked a blistering rebuttal from Pakistan, whose interior minister at the time branded Trump “ignorant” and stated that the “government of Pakistan and not Donald Trump” would decide Afridi’s fate.
In recent years Pakistani authorities have cracked down on nonprofits and forced them to leave the country, which analysts say was largely tied to the Afridi case due to the security establishment’s fears that NGOs have provided cover for spying.
Bin Laden doctor launches hunger strike in Pakistan
https://arab.news/2fyzq
Bin Laden doctor launches hunger strike in Pakistan
- Dr. Shakeel Afridi has been behind bars since 2012 after his fake vaccination program helped US track and kill Al Qaeda leader in 2011
- The 2011 killing of Bin Laden caused massive embarrassment for Pakistan
Pakistan, Bangladesh discuss cooperation on overseas employment, human resource development
- The development comes as both countries looking to strengthen institutional linkages, share expertise in workforce mobility
- Officials exchange views on shared challenges faced by overseas labor force, skills development and training for expatriates
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Bangladeshi officials have discussed expanding cooperation in overseas employment and human resource development, the Pakistani information ministry said on Sunday, amid warming relations between the two countries.
The statement followed a meeting between Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Dr. Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue 2026.
It comes amid Islamabad’s efforts to rebuild relations with Bangladesh since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, with both countries looking to strengthen institutional linkages and share expertise to improve skills training and workforce mobility.
Pakistani officials at the meeting briefed on the role and initiatives of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), while the Bangladeshi side shared insights into the operational framework of its Technical Training Centers.
“The two sides exchanged views on shared challenges faced by their overseas labor force and discussed best practices in skills development and training for expatriate workers,” the Pakistani information ministry said.
“Both sides expressed keen interest in learning from each other’s experiences and best practices in human resource development and labor export, including recruitment processes, skills training, and reintegration mechanisms for returning workers.”
Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same country until Bangladesh’s secession following a bloody civil war in 1971, an event that long cast a shadow over bilateral ties. Both countries have moved closer since August 2024, following the ouster of Hasina who was considered an India ally.
As Pakistan-Bangladesh ties warm up, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
Pakistani and Bangladeshi officials also explored avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, health, tourism and trade.
“Both sides expressed their commitment to continued engagement and constructive dialogue to strengthen cooperation in areas of shared interest,” the Pakistani information ministry added.
