Renowned Jang/GEO Correspondent and Columnist Nayyar Zaidi's trial is scheduled for October 6, in Ohio, where he remains detained without bail since March 2008.
He was twice rejected bail, according to his spouse. But it is unclear why he was refused bail, and what the grounds were. My understanding is that on such matters it may be possible to obtain bail unless it is set so high that it cannot be obtained by the affected individual.
Another reason for bail refusal could be if the alleged crime is piggy-backed by another alleged crime which gives the prosecutor more strength to ask the Judge to reject the bail application.
Mr Zaidi, on August 5th, sent me thru his wife, a 14-page handwritten explanation on his incarceration and his defense. It is being made available on DesPardes.com website at: http://www.despardes.com/zaidi-papers-aug5.pdf
Since the matter is subjudice before the court, we need to be careful not to comment on any aspect of the case, specially on its merit.
In his handwritten note, Mr Zaidi says, "I was working on a story which was part of a bigger journalistic project, on the invasive nature of the internet and the political and social changes it is bringing. I was inspired by Marshall McLuhan's 1960 book :Understanding Media". He adds, "Sexual exploitation of minors is a big issue. I named the project, "PARENTS AS PREDATORS." After my arrest one minor case in Italy and one is Austria came out in news."..."But internet is fantasy land...nothing is authentic (not news but chats)...."
"As journalists we know that first-hand accounts are the most authoritative..It was natural for me to try to establish real-time contact with some one who claimed to be in a "Parent Predator". As you all know, I am. perhaps, the only (Pakistani) journalist whose name is well known is U.S. and Pakistan. There is a market in Pakistan for stories that do not start with, "Mr Boucher said..."
Mr Zaidi also claims in his faxed notes to me that he was the first journalist to break the story of CIA providing potable labs to Afghans (during the Afghan Jihad War) to make Heroin.
"U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Arnold Raphael, was outraged that he told the State Department to terminate my 17-years contract with the Voice of America(VOA)," he added.
One newspaper report (Daily Times) has said that Mr Zaidi and his spouse refused embassy help on grounds that Mr Zaidi was an American citizen and was "not in jail". I know for sure he is in under detention, based on his and his spouses's phone calls to me during the last few weeks. I am not sure why there is still need to hide this critical fact. Why not let people know and possibly help?
Besides, Pakistani-Americans automatically enjoy dual nationality status. So what's the harm in reaching out for all available help if one is innocent?
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Mr. Irshad Salim , thank you very much for bringing some updates , Im one of reader of Mr. zaidi since 1997-98 when he highlighted the American state of mind over kargil , it was my first year of university And being interested I use to paste his column in my register , so I can read them or can use for any assignment so I always take mr. zaidi as my spiritual professor who helped me a lot to understand Pak American affairs, especially when he translate the American accent
ReplyDeleteIn Urdu like “we made it loud and clear”, “we ask you” and “ we know you can do more and we want you do mire”. In kargil days, If I am not wrong it was Mr. zaidi who discussed that an American navy College has made a war scene between india and Pakistan and showed Pakistanis that they will get nothing , n nothing.
In his column “ Kiya table Jang baj chukka hia” (1997-2000) Mr. zaidi surprised me when he says that if Pakistan India war likely , I want to see it in my Life. In which he highlighted again that in 1971 when he was working in VOA , how come a Pakistani war plan has crossed many air bases and went in india to attack. So india was able to announce was against Pakistan.
On the death of Princes of wales, Mr. zaidi said again highlighted his theory(in a column circa 1997-2000) that Her car was an automatic car so it was very possible that she was killed by an electronic jamming, not only this he Said , I have in defective believe (He used the word “yakeen e kamil”)That President ZIA was also assassinated by satellite jamming.
Mr . zaidi always touched very important and sensitive matters , for readers it may be not but for the people who may involve in these can surely give an head ach , on the request of Pak Embassy he helped Pakistan to put up her case for 658 Million Dollar that’s were blocked by Americans on Pressler amendment. In these days our Pakstani ambassador is Mashallah a Tees mar khan so why he bear a person of such authentication.
Now, when we talk about the charges of Feds against Mr. Zaidi , one should not forget zaidi’s columns specially when he was loud against American policies and agencies. I still belive that its an American design against Mr. zaidi , why the Feds undercover officer who played Mother offered her 13 year girl , why not a 26. They are talking about something un done. Or that was not committed in real.
Why he was refused a bail? But Ohio County’s jail records said He was released on 26 March 2008. Released to the Federal authorities ?? , the situation after Dr. Afia case has turned like this that not only Mr. zaidi but every one in the world is soft target for them , Im afraid Now while we travel if we have a tooth paste or after shave in our hand bag . it might also go against us Because they can call it gel of their own choice.
Now , I don’t know why Mr. Irshad Salim is not ready to comment , positive o negative, I think he had a friendship with Mr. zaidi so at least he is not able to comment something , im only his reader , never seen him , but I’m confident that the charges are big setup. Mr. Salim did not also tel us that when zaidi was the third person asking him for help. What Mr. Salim was able to do in this regard or just to tell us that people ask you for help.
Unfortunately I could not see the PDf attachment with new updates, it may be in construction or removed , said the web link. Pls at least give a moral support to Mr Zaidi.
excellent analysis while the rest of the blogging world is jumping up and down because "one of us" is on trial unfairly you have provided facts which are quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do not mind if i add you to my blog roll and use your article as a link back on my post on this story?
Nayyar Zaidi's trial has been continued indefinitely per the court docket. I email to the owner of this website some file from the docket of US District Court, Northern District of Ohio. These documents are public documents; it is just a mater of finding them. Based on those court filings and ruling, Mr. Zaidi is facing very, very serious charges. He is denied bail because the statute under which he is charged does not permit any avenues for a pretrial release or bond.
ReplyDeleteLet's for a minute forget whether he is innocent or not. The US justice system is not what you read in books and watch in the news. The system is very biased and unfair. The king of evidence FBI and other law enforcement are presenting it is very likely he will be convicted and face a long prison term. TO me the case is nothing but entrapment and manufactured law enforcement. But unfortunately this what you get for "due process" and their high sounding BS in the US constitution. The system is corrupt and fascist. Court rooms are show rooms and prosecutors and law enforcement can manufacture and fabricate anything. MOst people who live in the US thinks that US justice system is a model system, but in reality it is a sham charade
I can see the government is pursuing full throttle against him based on the government's filings in the court. Unfortunately Zaidi's options are limited, if he goes to rial and loses he can face 20 years in prison; if take a plea he may still have to serve 3-5 years in prison. If Bureau of Prisons find him psychologically unstable, he may be confined in a mental health prison for some time to come.
I feel for him but in a Nazi-Fascist system (of current day USA), there is not much we can do individually and if most of us just worry about our pay checks and cool gadgets when sson all of us will be in the same situation as Zaidi.
F (for Freedom; or it could be Fascism)