Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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The Associated Press
Thursday, December 2, 2010; 1:48 PM
SANTIAGO, Chile – A young Pakistani man who was detained at the U.S. Embassy and investigated in a terror probe said Thursday that he expects an apology from Chilean authorities for the time he was held and interrogated. He also plans to marry his Chilean girlfriend and stay in the country.

Muhammad Saif Ur Khan, 28, spoke with Chilean news media as he and his fiancee, Lorena Cotroneo, went to city hall to start the paperwork required for their marriage.

They made the journey a day after prosecutor Alejandro Pena informed a court that he would not pursue charges against Khan due to a lack of evidence. The court is scheduled to hold a hearing on Monday to formally clear him.

Khan said that he wants to stay in Chile because “it’s a pretty place, and the people of Chile are very friendly,” and he said his marriage would help him “to forget the bad times.”

But he also said that authorities should apologize for turning his life upside down for six months. Khan, who arrived in the South American country in January, was detained May 10 at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, where authorities said that they had detected traces of an explosive on his clothes.

He was held in police custody for about a month, after which he was ordered not to leave the country while prosecutors sought evidence to back up the charges.

“I deserve to live a normal life. I deserve it a lot,” Khan said. “If I don’t obtain this normal life, it will be yet more discrimination.”

Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter ruled out an apology, saying that the government acted within its rights to investigate Khan and “no one can feel persecuted or that their rights were denied when the institutions work properly.”

Once Khan is fully exonerated Monday, he will be allowed to request an extension of his visa, which expired in June. He cannot legally marry Cotroneo until he does so. The two were married under Muslim law in October in a Santiago mosque.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120203497.html

May JUSTICE PREVAIL!!! Saif is innocent and now the whole world knows!!

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Congratulations!

I find it a little bit ironic that after constantly accusing Chilean authorities of discrimination against him because of his nationality and religion, Mr. Saif wants to give up that nationality for a Chilean one.

Why make such a big hue and cry about Pakistani authorities not doing enough for this lad, Pakistani nation not standing up for its image in the face of this incident, suffering parents in Pakistan and blaming 'western media' for demonizing him when his intention was to abandon Pakistan and settle in the same 'West'?

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Kaka ji, You really have no idea about what you are saying! Nobody has abandoned Pakistan. Do not make assumptions. Getting married is no sin and if you followed everything, I mean every detail, you would never say that. Now that I see one reply from a Pakistani after 7 months, I am amazed.... Where were you when he was declared "terrorist"?????? How did you help???

Saif has defended and saved Pakistan's image, more than anyone here or anywhere else! Atleast realize that!

How many Pakistanis stood up for Saif? Interested to know...? Lets leave it at that.

Long live Pakistan and may all its citizens remain SAFE and DIGNIFIED where ever they are! Also, pray, that Allah puts some confidence into this nation that they start standing up for their rights... UNITED!

sometimes we all end up saying big things, without realizing what we are saying. May Allah keep everyone safe. Hope no one has to see a family member or a friend go through what Saif went through.

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Allah Hafiz and thanks for all your prayers and support.. active or passive.

One last word of advise for every Pakistani .... realize your potential and stand tall with pride. If we are truthful, there is nothing to worry! The world never respects those who do not respect themselves.

Today the image of Pakistan in South America is very different from what it was on May 10th!. If one man can do that (by Allah's grace), imagine the potential of 170 million.

Peace.

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Great to hear that Arkam, we can only imagine what you guys went thru during all this time :k:

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

May Allah bless Saif!

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

Coverage on Chilean media..

Thousands of comments and emails in support. Most apologizing on behalf of the Chilean nation!

Chilean parliamentarians demanding an apology from the interior minister. Hard for Saif to walk in the street. Cameras following him…

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

I'm glad the whole saga is over and Saif is vindicated

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Re: Pakistani wants apology from Chile for detention

this is quite a relief for him and his country's prestige ,
all is well which ends in well ,congratulation to him and his dear and near ones.