US should respect Pakistani courts: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said the United States should respect the country’s law and courts sentencing Dr Shakeel Afridi, accused of helping the CIA in reaching al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. While responding to queries during his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said the decision in connection with Dr Shakeel Afridi was Pakistan’s internal matter and the United States should respect Pakistan’s law. “I think as far as the case of Dr Afridi is concerned, it would be decided in accordance with Pakistani laws and by Pakistani courts, and we need to respect each other’s legal processes,” Khan said. A Pakistani court on Wednesday sentenced Dr Afridi to 33 years in prison for high treason. The US State Department condemned the sentence, while some US senators severely criticised the decision. During the briefing, the spokesman also condemned the fresh drone strikes, saying, “First of all let me give you my response on drone attacks. We strongly condemn these attacks. We regard them as a violation of our territorial integrity. They are in contravention of international law. They are illegal, counter productive and totally unacceptable.” To a question regarding resolution of issues with the United Stated, he said all issues, including drones, were being negotiated with a view to come up with a mutually acceptable solution. “Let me also add here that the US is an important country and it is an important relationship for Pakistan and there is a mutual desire to normalise this relationship,” he added. On restoration of talks with the US, the spokesman said negotiations were going on and “lets wait for results”. When he was asked whether the NATO supply was already restored, Khan said, “I think you are referring to those four containers which contained diplomatic stuff. It has got nothing to do with NATO supplies.” He said Pakistan did not attend NATO summit in Chicago with any expectation, adding, “We went there because we were invited by NATO, because NATO feels Pakistan has an important role to play in Afghanistan.” i hussain

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