US Congressman to Obama: Don't abandon doctor who helped CIA

A top US Congressman has asked President Barack Obama to "personally intercede" to ensure that Pakistan government does not punish a doctor who helped CIA in tracking down al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's remarks came in the wake of Pakistani media reports that the government has sealed all of Dr Shakil Afridi's bank accounts and property, including his house.

Since May of last year, Afridi has been incarcerated by Pakistan and awaits possible trial for treason and execution. "Afridi's daring act to help bring Osama Bin Laden to justice deserves proper recognition. He should not to be abandoned by the White House. President Obama should personally intercede," Rohrabacher said in a statement.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Rohrabacher recently introduced a Congressional resolution to award Afridi the Congressional Gold Medal for his bravery and sacrifice for helping the United States locate and identify bin Laden.

"Pakistan's leaders continue to show the US they are a hard-core, two-faced enemy not worthy of the USD 2.2 billion in foreign assistance the Obama Administration plans to give them next year," he said.

"After Osama Bin Laden murdered 3,000 people in New York City the Pakistani government protected him for years and now they want to punish the man who helped reveal where he was living," Rohrabacher said.

Afridi, a Pakistani physician, helped the CIA run a fake vaccine programme in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in order to confirm bin Laden's presence in the city by obtaining DNA samples.