Pakistani journalist gets asylum in US
Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON: The United States has granted asylum to a Pakistani journalist from Balochistan because it believed his claim that if he returns he could be killed.
Siraj Ahmed Malik applied for asylum on Aug 19. In his petition he said his work as a journalist and activist in Balochistan, where he claimed to have exposed military abuses, made him likely to be arrested, tortured, abducted and “ultimately killed by the government” if he returned.
Two weeks ago, his petition was granted.
The Washington Post described it as “a highly unusual decision”, given Pakistan’s status as a strategic partner in Washington’s war against terrorists; a long-time recipient of US aid; and a democracy with an elected civilian government and vibrant national news media.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/15/2011
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