Hamesh Khan is an American/Pakistani citizen. He was accused three years ago of fraud by the Punjab government. He was put in jail and tortured in 2008. He was placed under house arrest and escaped to America knowing that his arrest was politically motivated. He brought his family over and was hired by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in D.C. after a thorough vetting. He was doing well as a good American citizen and was very productive here and would have continued to do so.

At the request of the government of Pakistan, he was arrested in December 2009, placed in U.S. Federal prison in Alexandria, Virginia in the U.S. and extradited at the request of the Pakistani government in May of 2010. He has had many hearings to request bail which has been refused. He was then thrown into Camp Jail. The U.S. State Dept. specified in his its extradition agreement that he would not be tortured or mistreated if he was returned to Pakistan. This is far from what has actually happened.

He is now in a cell six feet by six with five other men, filthy, no toilet, etc He has appealed for bail many times and been refused. All others accused in this case have been granted bail. No charges have been brought against him, and it seems that there is no real proof against him, and that this is merely political on the part of the leadership there in the Punjab. He has been in prison three years without indictment.

He is 42, a friend of many here in the U.S. We have a group called Free Hamesh Khan on Facebook. He is an honest young man. He has a wife and three young sons in Lahore. He attended and worked at Georgia Southern University here in Georgia, and is well respected. His case has reached the attention of many, and the impression of the Court system of Pakistan is not good based on what has happened to him after promises of humane treatment. His father is an American citizen living in America and Hamesh has dual citizenship.

We think Hamesh has “fallen through the cracks.”

Please look into this and act. He is worth saving. There have been recent murders and torture in Camp Jail and we have specified that this cannot happen to Hamesh. We have submitted over 30 letters on his behalf to the State Department and to the Human Rights Commission. He was recently tortured in Camp Jail by having a hornet’s nest thrown at him and having tarantulas released in his cell.

We are worried beyond belief and fear for his safety. Please intercede on his behalf by signing this petitition.

Sincerely,
Members of Free Hamesh Khan
mfdaily@charter.net

Excerpts from letters of support follow:

I have known Hamesh Khan for well over 15 years. I worked with him here in Statesboro at Georgia Southern University. He is a good man with a refreshing sense of humor. I cannot imagine him doing what he is accused of doing. It is so out of character for him. I always found him to be honest and caring about his family and friends. I don't think he has a devious or dishonest bone is his body.

There has been so much corruption in Pakistan. When new political parties come in, they try to target people who supported the old regime. They try to make scapegoats out of anyone who showed any support or loyalty to the prior party that was in control. With all the corruption, I am sure that the new regime had plenty of time to "create" evidence against Hamesh. They have one of the most corrupt governments in the world - I think we could all agree on that. They want him out of the picture. I am sure there are plenty of others who were in power at different banks who are probably missing at this point.

I believe that Hamesh Khan should be freed immediately based on my knowledge of his history and his character. He is an American citizen who has not been accused of a crime in America, and his experience in Pakistan was a result of political revenge. His return to Pakistan could result in tragedy for which we, as Americans, would be responsible...

The media in Pakistan has believed what the new regime has told them. But I truly believe there are a lot of people in Pakistan who know the truth, but are scared to say it. They fear for their lives. It is an iron-fisted government over there. The ends justify the means...no matter what happens in between. They have their minds made up that they will prosecute Hamesh as their scapegoat, but my guess is that he will "disappear" before there is ever a trial. They don't want Hamesh telling his side of the story.
His family needs him at home; he will remain a loyal American with much to contribute to our country. Please free him as soon as possible so that this good man can continue with his life

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm a Pakistani Citizenn. He had a spark in him, and one could easily make out that this guy was going to make impressionable success in his line and that he did. He rapidly climbed to become President of a troubled local bank (The Bank of Punjab). He accepted the challenge and soon started to make reforms that turned the bank on a way of not only betterment but prosperity also.

But, this bank also had a political background unfortunately. The founders of this bank, who are also the current rulers of Punjab province (where this bank operates) had earlier founded this bank for various political reasons. One major reason was to upset the Central Government of then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by raising funds at provincial level and to misuse these funds for destabilizing the Govt of Ms Bhutto in the center.

Anyone familiar with the political history of Pakistan in last two decades knows and will confirm that they succeeded in overturning Ms Bhutto's Govt not only once but twice thru such practices and the same very political forces spearheaded by. Nawaz Sharif and backed by powerful civil and army bureaucracy are again in action and using any fair or UNFAIR MEANS primarily for their political motives but are also victimizing any and all irritant factors in way of their political goals. Hamesh Khan has also unfortunately fallen victim of this political scenario whereby Sharif's Govt in Punjab wants not only to settle scores with their political opponents but also to create a wave of political terror in the Punjab province (largest province with over 55% population of Pakistan). Sharif's referred political opponents are mainly from the Chaudhry family who were in Punjab Govt at the time. Hamesh Khan remained president of this bank in Musharraf's overall rule.

Obtaining false witnesses and production of fake and false evidence is not much of an issue in this province/country where an ex-prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (father of Benazir) was hanged to death on such false evidence and witnesses and is now renowned as "Judicial Murder".

We need to act to free him now.