Deleted:Saifullah Paracha

Saifullah Paracha
File:Saifullah Paracha.jpg
Born	}}}}}}}} 17, }} 1947 Mongwal, Pakistan

Saifullah Paracha is a citizen of Pakistan currently held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba. The Department of Defense reports that Paracha was born on August 17, 1947, in Mongwal, Pakistan.

He graduated from a university in Karachi with a degree in physics and attended New York Institute of Technology, studying computer systems analysis.

As of September 12, 2011, Saifullah Paracha has been held at Guantanamo for seven years.

Paracha's Family

Paracha has 4 children and a wife. Two daughters and two sons, Uzair (29), Muneeza (26), Mustafa (19) and Zahra (16). According to newspaper reports they have faced immense financial problems and have consistently asserted Paracha's innocence.

His son, Uzair Paracha, was convicted in 2005 for providing support to Al-Qaeda, that included assistance for Majid Khan to obtain documents.

Combatant Status Review

Main article: Combatant Status Review Tribunal

A Summary of Evidence memo was prepared for Saifullah Paracha's Combatant Status Review Tribunal, on 6 October 2004.

Saifullah Paracha v. George W. Bush

A writ of habeas corpus, Saifullah Paracha v. George W. Bush, was submitted on Saifullah Paracha's behalf. In response, on 21 December 2004, the Department of Defense published fifty-eight pages of unclassified documents related to his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.

On 8 December 2004 Tribunal panel 24 convened and confirmed Saifullah Paracha's "enemy combatant" status.

Press reports

On July 12, 2006 the magazine Mother Jones provided excerpts from the transcripts of a selection of the Guantanamo detainees. Paracha was one of the detainees profiled. According to the article his transcript contained the following exchange:

Tribunal president: I do know you had some questions about the legality of your detention. That would be referred to other organizations of the government, but you will be receiving more specific instructions shortly of how to bring your question to U.S. courts.

Paracha: Your honor, I have been here 17 months; would that be before I expire?

Tribunal president: I would certainly hope so, especially since you are under the care of the U.S. government while you are here. As far as some of the other statements you made about jurisdiction, this is a U.S. government executive decision in regards to the detention of enemy combatants….

Paracha: Your honor, my question is that your executive order is applicable around the earth?

Tribunal president: It is a global war on terrorism.

Paracha: I know, sir, but you are not the master of the earth, sir….

Tribunal president: Would you be surprised to hear that Osama bin Laden founded Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda includes people from all over the world? People from America, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Philippines, and people from wherever?

Paracha: Sir, how could anybody know who Al Qaeda is?

Tribunal president:Good question. That’s a very good question.

On June 2, 2008 Zachary Katznelson appealed to the Pakistani government for assistance, stating:

"Political intervention is the only hope for Saifullah Paracha to receive justice."

Heart surgery

File:2005021807a hr.jpg

Guantanamo detainment camp infirmary operating room

Paracha needed heart surgery. Paracha's lawyer's appealed the camp medical authorities plans to perform the surgery in the Guantanamo camp infirmary's operating room. Paracha was concerned about the competence of the Guantanamo medical staff. Paracha's request to have his surgery performed off-island was turned down. The Guantanamo Bay Doctors and Military personnel told him that they had performed surgery on another man as well and his operation was successful. Paracha requested to at least talk to this man but the request was denied.

According to MSNBC:

"Paracha's lawyer said that his client complained that several simple diagnostic examinations were not performed adequately by doctors at Guantanamo Naval Hospital. Gaillard Hunt, Paracha's lawyer, said that his client has had his hands and feet shackled when being examined at the base hospital and that several attempts to perform an electrocardiogram, or EKG, proved difficult for base medical staff."

According to a report from the Associated Press Paracha has had three heart attacks in custody. The report stated Commander Rick Haupt claimed preparing facilities in case Paracha agreed to heart surgery cost $400,000. Mrs. Paracha has stated that Paracha's failing health should be reason enough to release him immediately if they would not look into the legal issues of the situation.

References

External links

• Secret US cables accessed by Dawn through WikiLeaks: Saifullah Paracha’s continued detention at Gitmo a mystery
• Saifullah Paracha Reprieve
• UN Secret Detention Report (Part Two): CIA Prisons in Afghanistan and Iraq Andy Worthington, June 16, 2010
• The Paracha Family: From 1947 till now, a support site