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SHABQADAR: In the aftermath of the sentencing of Dr Shakil Afridi, another twist emerged on Saturday when the Fata Lawyers Forum (FLF) refused to extend any legal help to the former government surgeon.

Members of Aman Tehreek and some Fata lawyers had earlier submitted an application at the Peshawar Central Jail, seeking Afridi’s approval for power of attorney.
However, on Saturday, FLF lawyers issued a statement whereby they refused to offer any legal support to Afridi.
“No one has approached the FLF for any legal advice while the body’s executive committee and the cabinet are unaware of anyone seeking counsel,” the statement highlighted.
When contacted, FLF President Ijaz Mohmand also denied that the body was in any way associated with the case.
On the other hand, Aman Tehreek leader Idrees Kamal maintained that a panel of lawyers including the FLF president was helping the body to defend Afridi in the court.
“We still await the signed copy of the power of attorney as well as the copy of the case itself from the political administration,” said Kamal.
“Some FNF lawyers are helping us in their personal capacities,” he added.
When approached, former Security Secretary Fata Brigadier (retd) Memood Shah said that Afridi’s sentence was first pronounced by a tribal jirga, comprising elders well-versed in tribal norms and traditions. An appeal against the decision can be made to the Appellate Commissioner Court (ACC) as outlined in the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), added Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2012.