Agencies grill grandfather on 5 years old Osama

By Zakir Hassnain

PESHAWAR: Pakistani security and foreign agencies raided an office in Batkhela Malakand on Saturday, and interrogated a man, Mohammad Ismail, as to the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden. “I told them Osama was my grandson and living in Chakdara with his family,” Mr Ismail told reporters who approached him Sunday after news of the raid spread.

The raid took place around 12 midday at the office of the district coordination officer and lasted four hours. The security men, some 10 to 12 of them, included a foreigner. They interrogated Mr Ismail, office superintendent, asking him where Mr Bin Laden was.

Mr Ismail said Osama, 5, was the child of his son Junaid. He said the security personnel, some of whom were in uniform and some in plainclothes, belonged to the FIA and a foreign agency, and had come in two vehicles. “First they talked to the other office staff and then came to me and asked me questions about Osama, his whereabouts and if I had been to Afghanistan.” He said he told them he had nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden and he had not gone to Afghanistan.

He said the accompanying foreigner who was in plainclothes did not speak to him despite the fact he, (Ismail), speaks English.

Residents of the area have condemned the raid and interrogation, saying the government must stop embarrassing “the noble citizens of Pakistan”.

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