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Afghanistan/South Asia |
2 Doctors Get 7 Years for Links With Al-Qaeda |
2005-03-15 |
![]() The court found the pair had provided medical aid to militants from the Al-Qaeda-linked Jundullah, or Army of God, which was blamed for the attack on Lt. Gen. Ahsan Saleem Hayat convoy in June last year. That attack left 11 people dead, including seven soldiers, three policemen and a passer-by. Hayat, who narrowly escaped the attack, is now working as vice chief of the army staff. Both doctors were also charged with providing medical treatment to two foreign Al-Qaeda operatives, Abu Hashim and Abu Mussab, and sending local militants for training in the lawless tribal areas near the Afghan border. The verdict was announced in a makeshift court room inside Karachi's Central Prison. Later the pair told reporters they would appeal against the decision within seven days. "We provided medical aid to Afghan refugees after the 2001 US attacks on Afghanistan. It is our job to provide medical treatment to anyone, we have no regrets and we would continue with our duty," Arshad Waheed said. Their lawyer, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, added: "This is a fit case for appeal as there is no evidence." |
Posted by:Fred |