Guest Post by temporal who blogs at Baithak
Veteran journalist (daily Jang & Geo TV) and broadcaster (with VOA at one time) Nayyar Zaidi is missing according to a report filed by another veteran journalist Khalid Hasan from DC. Nayyar also had a history of launching a multi-million dollar suit against the FBI.
WASHINGTON: Nayyar Zaidi, the well-known US-based Pakistani-American journalist, who has been a citizen of the United States for more than 30 years has been in US custody for the last four months on what are said to be terrorism-related charges.According to one report, Zaidi is being held on the charge of “obstruction of justice”, a very serious offense. He is also said to be awaiting a trial. [more here]
While pursuing this story I came across this hand written note by Nayyar Zaidi from Federal Detention Center, dated August 8, 2008.
There is also another blog entry by Irshad Salim which alleges that Nayyar Zaidi was arrested by Ohio Police for “teen sex” charges.
Caveat: While confessing to know little about the truth of the matter before the courts, I can hazard an opinion based on FBI and CIA and Homeland Security’s past “misadventures”. The tussle between Nayyar zaidi and FBI has been going on since 90s and a “frame-up” is not beyond these Agencies.
Comments
40 responses to “Nayyar Zaidi Missing”
This is a sad.
We are running after Dr. Afia, just when a new HR abuse crops up
God help the poor chap
We pakistanis abroad are creating the bad image for the whole country.
truly – what image are you talking about – the image that the corrupt wield in front of our eyes threateningly or the image of a proud progressive Pakistan – if you want to be recognized as great country called Pakistan then you have to work to get the mess out of Pakistan and the only way to do it is stand up and expose these crooks and their crimes – if you choose to shove their crimes under the carpet then its akin to having done the crime yourself.
Stand up for Pakistan not the corrupt
Moral of the story is: Jiss kee latheee uskee bhens
I have a big complain about our Media, both GEO and ARY and other channels should focus on writing programs that help build our character as a nations instead of promoting the culture of Heeraa Mandeee.
Television is the cheapest and the most effective way to educate the masses. But our media, just like our Politicians, Generals, Civil Servants is working just to make more money. I wish there were more people in the media who would work to build Pakistan as a GREAT COUNTRY.
Nayyar Zaidi was investigating couple of stories relating to mistreatment of Muslim prisoners by FBI in the US and abroad. During the course of his investigation Nayyar Zaidi Sahab was offered to work for the FBI which he refused.
Now during his visit to one of the federal jails – he was arrested on the charges of sabotaging National Security.
What will you folks say, if he is found guilty? Oh yes, all this has been a conspiracy by the Americans. That Pakistanis are good at. Not facing the reality.
found guily by whom and for what that would the key question…having said that the courts are generally more fair and free in the US than in Pakistan
temporal,
Zaidi is not being held on terrorism related charges, he is being held on trying to pickup a young girl to have sex with. The reason Zaidi has not been released is due not being able to bond himself out.
Let’s see what happens next. Though I know no matter what the outcome, if he is guilty, Pakistanis will not accept the reality. For his family’s sake, I do hope he is innocent. The American judicial system does take pedophile cases lightly and the guilty serve long prison terms.
The last sentence should state,
The American judicial system does not take pedophile cases lightly and the guilty serve long prison terms.
salman:
i’d agree with your conclusion if that is the case
but while that is a possibility, one cannot ignore the shenanigans of the dirty tricks brigade
nayyar has been suing the FBI since early 90s and it is not beyond speculaton that some honcho there thought of taking advantage of the islamophobia prevalent in the US these days and frame nayyar to shut him up
temporal,
Good to know that, at least you will accept that conclusion, if he is found guilty.
The problem with your theory is just speculations. I am well aware, we Muslims/Pakistanis like to believe that the Americans are out to get us. If this was the case, the Americans would not be shy to charge as such with a terror relate case.
What we fail to realize is that this man, Zaidi, is a possible pedophile. Not one report from the Pakistani blogs or newspapers is even entertaining this possibility. Do some research on the characteristics of a pedophile. Here is a link to start understanding more about how to identify and understand pedophilia:
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/inside.asp?AID=4353&UID=
Let’s see if you and others can seriously tackle this issue, than creating conspiracy theories. Sometimes we have difficulty from accepting fact from fiction. This is not Islamophobia and if it was the case, you would have organizations like CARE and the ACLU involved to protect the rights of Zaidi.
All I am asking you and others here is to think and start using your brains. You sound like a reasonable person and I trust you will reflect upon what I have shared with you.
uff, I wish this blog had an edit feature.
The two organizations are:
CAIR: Council on American-Islamic Relations
ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union
salman:
i am open to judicial findings
and at the risk of going on a tangent – re: your link. thanks
the table 3 and the three clusters here…nayyar is in the public eye for 35+ years and that too mostly in Va. DC area
if he was a pedophile, it would have surfaced earlier…
khair, the truth would come out and the other topic you digressed about…re: how this is swept under the rug in pakistan…here again i agree fully…sex is taboo…we are so pious (not!)
ps: did you read the 14 hand written pages and what is your take on it?
temporal,
Here is my short version, the words that come into my mind after reading the 14-page handwritten letter: delusions of grandeur and paranoia.
I will address the other issues you pointed out later. I have already made some notes and need to put them together.
Regards
temporal,
I made some comments here earlier, though they did not get posted. The words that come into my mind after reading the 14-page handwritten letter by Nayyar Zaidi are: delusions of grandeur and paranoia.
I have written some other notes and comments as well. I just need to put them together and later today I will post them.
You are very right that sex is a taboo in Pakistan and if I may add, for the self-righteous "pious"!
temporal,
Following are some of my observations reading the handwritten letter by Nayyar Zaidi:
The words delusions of grandeur and paranoia come into my mind after reading this 14-page letter (this is the third time I read this letter). Zaidi repeats over and over how the FBI has been out to get him and stating of his accomplishments. For a man that is well known to his Pakistani readers, why make it an issue?
The reference Zaidi made of medical records being destroyed and the lawsuit, this is not an easy task for the records to go missing. I know a thing or two about the medical profession and medical records do not just disappear or data being erased. We do not have all the facts to comment further on this. It is just useless rhetoric to mask the reality of why he is presently incarcerated.
The real conspiracy Zaidi develops in the letter is that somehow the US authorities have established OBL/KSM links to him due to fallout with the FBI agents and lawsuits he had against the US government. Oh my, this is more like a story of David and Goliath. Without knowing more of these facts from reliable sources (this is just his account), I cannot comment further on this link. If I do, I will be just harboring further on conspiracy theories.
My question to this is, why is Zaidi so quick to sue people and the government? What is his real motivation to file frivolous lawsuits?
Now getting to the crux of why he has been incarcerated. Zaidi alleges he was working on an investigative report on “parents and predators” and looking into how it is being done via the Internet and chat rooms (and his warning not to trust anything that comes via the this form). He has left out a lot of facts that brought him to being caught by the federal authorities. A lot of details are still missing of this account.
In summary, I will state that the letter is a masquerade for the real reason Zaidi is in jail now. Further investigation needs to be done to verify the issues Zaidi alleges. The letter is nothing more of justifications for something a “liar’ does to hide the truth.
I also find it very interesting that Zaidi has no lawyer representing him. As yourself why? Not to sound condescending, we Pakistanis are very cheap and Zaidi is looking for public support to assist him with legally defending the case. If Zaidi could be more forthcoming, as I have stated in my earlier post, organizations like CAIR and the ACLU would have no issue of defending him, if in reality this is a case of Islamophobia” and the US government trying to stifle free speech or malign the image of Muslims.
I hope I have given some food for thought. Let us all try to think and understand this case or any other alleged against Pakistanis or Muslims. What Pakistani blogs and newspapers are doing is nothing more than instilling Americanophobia (neologism, similar to Islamophobia) to win the heart and minds of Muslims and Pakistanis.
Have blogs really become propaganda machines of our era?
temporal/teeth,
Can you please delete the above two comments (timed 11:20 am and 11:48 am)? I have tried posting a longer answer to temporals question and it is not appearing here. I will attempt again posting the comments. I just do not want to duplicate comments.
Thanks
It was quite interesting to write Salman’s analysis on Nayyar Zaidi. What ignorance can we expect from this pakistani who doesn’t know who Nayyar Zaidi is–I suggest that he reads some of his articles and views this prominent journalists pics with presidents and senators and foreign diplomats—Zaidi is a public figure and has been a commentator on american media as well as international.
Salman, it seems to me that you are afraid to speak up against the system–I can understand….only few handful of journalist are un-biased in their reporting–and they tell it like it is( read nayyar zaidi’s columns–if you can read urdu–that is!) and then they become the envy of others who can’t speak up themselves. Muslims are being targeted everywhere and agencies are known to “frame” anyone and everyone who is a threat to national security. Where were you hibernating-that you say americanophobia is instilled. Wake up and smell the coffee, sonny! Why would Zaidi travel to Ohio to find a teen? Have they all died in Virginia, Maryland and D.C.? I think Salman you should think before writing as I take you are not much of a writer, analyst or researcher! Good day!
Oh ya Salman Bhai you are also aloof to what can happen to medical records when the data goes missing…as you commented that you know a thing or two—it doesn’t happen only in pakistan but it happens here as well when evidence is witheld( next time attend a session in the lower courts(you may really learn something)—-so please refrain yourself from becoming an expert as it shows you really are an amateur—just state your opinions but don’t try to analyze something you even need help to understand.
"Wake up and smell the coffee, sonny! Why would Zaidi travel to Ohio to find a teen? Have they all died in Virginia, Maryland and D.C.?"
Sara,
I am glad that I got you and I am sure others angry. Please read the above quote statement you made. Think and reflect and place yourself into understanding the mind of a pedophile. What would a pedophile do? Do you honestly believe that a person like Nayyar Zaidi would look for prey in his backyard? Well, that is one of your many errors in reading my views on the letter from Zaidi.
I never claimed to be a writer but I can claim to be a victim that an old bastard that took away my innocence as a child.
Your views and statements do not surprise me the least. You think that some personality is holy than thou and above being dysfunctional. I do hope for your sake and others that, some sick bastard does not prey upon your child or relative. Sadly even when situations like this occur, the people from our culture will never accept it.
It is okay, you can attack me personally of what I do not know. Live in denial and accept whatever fantasy is fed to you.
fyi, I do not live in Pakistan and do happen to know this character from the DC area. The rest you can speculate to your hearts desire of what I know or my background.
Good day to you and I sincerely pray that, you and others will never have to deal with a child molester in your life.
Before I go off to sleep, I would like to leave a message for all the Sara’s and others that are in denial.
First and foremost, what I shared with you all of my own abuse as a child, I do not need anyone to feel sorry for me. I am thankful to God of where I am today. Strange as it may sound, I would not change one event of my life. If we accept God’s will, there is wisdom also in accepting what comes forth and being content.
The rest, I have already stated in my earlier posts. Please stop blaming America for all our problems. More you folks continue this path, more delusional you folks are becoming.
When will we start taking responsibility and stop blaming others?
Well,Well,Well…first of all I apologize that because of your own personal issues you decide to attack the innocent!!I think america should have given you insurance so you could get some help to deal with your abuses….I am not angry(it is how ignorant peope like yourself that come to a conclusion)but were pointing out facts—-as I said before and will say it over and over again…Nayyar Zaidi has been all over the world–why couldn’t he take a girl anywhere else? Listen, you are one of those people that envy the popularity of Nayyar Zaidi–(becuz, alas pakistanis never appreciate the gains of their own countrymen…) so it is ok…you can kiss a–up to america since you are living here–remember you will always be a “ghulam” to this country—since Pakistan also has nothing to offer–you can think of this country as yours—god forbid when a time comes and you are left trying to defend your rights in a country you call your own. I pray for others who arew quick to jump on the bandwagon and point fingers that they should get their facts straight..Salman Bhai—do straighten out your personal issues rather than think everyone who is “accused” is guilty. Dear one, America has changed post 9/11—so as I said before wake up!
Sara,
The problem you have is that you are unable to read and understand. You wish to only grasp a few lines and start to believe now that I am need of help. The person that needs help is you, for you and many others blame America for all the ills that have transpired since 911.
I do not envy Nayyar Zaidi, I feel sorry for him and many others that never appreciated the beauty of freedom this country had to offer to them. Zaidi was on course from the early onset of life here to take advantage of filing law suits and not taking responsibility. So many people come here and enjoy all the benefits that America offered them and then start barking of how evil this country is. Namak harram! If you and others are not happy here, get lost and go back to Pakistan or where ever you come from. Why stay here? Of yes, going back to the home countries of where they will never be able to get ahead.
Do not worry about who will defend my rights, if something happens, God has blessed me and I am not worried. Do not worry about my personal issues either. Neither have you read what I wrote in my earlier posts but only taken parts and started to dissect issues to your own whim.
The person that needs to wake up is you! Go and read some of the beautiful words of Nayyar Zaidi and feel all giddy about yourself! Please continue with your wishful dreams and paranoia. You will never be able to wake up and should enjoy the slumber!
salman:
as you say The problem with your theory is just speculations
yes, you can call it speculations or conjectures…since we are not (thankfully) the judges before whom the evidence is presented
so until the trial is underway we should presume he is innocent
you have coped well with your childhood sufferings, it seems, but why bring them here?
despite my skepticism of the dirty tricks brigade in both cia and fbi, i am maintaining an open stance
and this despite the knowledge that he has been in public eye since early 70s in va. dc and md. areas …. and if he were a pedophile…there would have been at least a whispering campaign
also, despite the act that his documented tussles with the fbi are going on since 18 years
so until the outcome of the verdict, i would extend him the benefit of doubt
temporal,
You are very right that benefit of doubt should be given to this person or anyone. I do believe in the judicial system in the US, yes at times it is abused by few, but over all, it is fair.
I shared of my own past, not to seek sympathy from anyone but to highlight problems that do exist. Our culture does not accept this. Enough said on this subject and I am not going to speak of myself further.
Now to the reference that Zaidi has been living in the US for many years and if issues did exist of pedophilia, it would have come. The problem here with this thinking is that, due to our own cultural background, such abuses do not get reported. Neither am I suggesting this man is a pedophile. We have to keep an awareness and not be blinded by the personality or accomplishments of the person.
As you are, I am sure, aware the Catholic Church went through their own issues here. For a long time, the idea of a priest committing heinous abuse against children was resisted. Slowly more cases came forth and people started accepting of the problem. We Muslims are going through a similar phase and this aspect no one likes to talk about or accept.
As I have said in my earlier posts, I certainly pray that Zaidi is proven innocent. We need to keep our minds open and not just blame other issues for his present incarnation. That is it and nothing more.
I did not want to start these personal attacks and it was started by Sara. One thing I have learned in my life, never will I allow anyone to abuse me again. She went to attack me personally and that I will not accept from anyone.
btw, you have never really given a detailed version of your own analysis of Zaidi’s letter. Care to share with us of what you really think?
Regards
paragraph 5, incarnation is not what I meant, it is incarsination.
It is time for me to go play a game of golf.
Sara, no ill feelings against you. Be open to accept things in life, as I am.
Regards
salman:
perhaps you meant incarceration?
khair, point taken
i will write later about my impressions of the hand written note
thanks
thanks temporal, you are right, it is incarceration. I am not a lawyer or ever incarcerated…:)
I will look forward to your write-up.
regards
sara and salman (various posts)
if i could
i would appeal to both of you to avoid being personal
thanks
I thank temporal for giving his insight on the issue—Salman–I think it was you who started attacking Nayyar Zaidi on your “own personal issues”—like temporal said—innocent until proven guilty…you need to look at the picture as a whole…anyway I know Zaidi writes his columns upfront–whether he criticizes the pak gov’t or the american system—-and that’s why he has made enemies along the way—we can’t judge why he sued the doctors or the fbi without sufficient knowledge—America is supposedly the land of the “free and brave” so why not use the fundamental rights bestowed on the citizens? But they have been after Zaidi from before and what better opportunity could they have found then to slam this charge on him…
Plus, I believe this trial will not be fair—if there is a plea bargain Zaidi should consider it…this America is not what is was before 9/11—sorry salman…it is a fact—i think you should acknowledge it!
Sara,
Please do me a favor and stop referring to my personal issues (it was not an issue until you made one). I do realize that somethings are beyond your capability to understand. You are welcome to continue living in delusions.
Salman, stop living in euthopia where people like you try to be wannabees in a country that you migrated to.
Sara,
Thank you for the good laugh.
No, I am not a wannabe and live very comfortably here. I can practice my faith, express myself and am quite comfortable with my identity. You have me confused with some image built in your mind by writers.
Try again, but please first fix your understanding of what is “eutopia”.
Warm regards from America
I don’t agree about the pedophile theory, because a journalist which has such a long career and contains over 20 years in US, he has a family, while he was busy in a large journalistic project regarding the missing persons.
There are two different cases, which were charged on Mr. Zaidi.
I agree with the Salman to some extent that is the result of the suppression of society but think over how such a prominet journalist, whose career is clear even from this pedophile case. He is living in US around three decades as professional career, and no one could find in such felony.
In my view, the pedophile case is just to divert and halting the coverage which deserves a lot but unfortunately, it is not being done.
Thanks,
Nasir Taimoori
I think we should support the Mr. Zaidi case
Thank you Mr. Nasir—Nayyar Zaidi has been framed and to make matters worse—now they want him to take a competency test before he can represents himself—as Zaidi believes court-appointed lawyers will not represent him satisfactorily. Sad to say, Zaidi has theories with facts when he writes his columns and some information might threaten national security, so the best way to shut him up is to slap charges that are sadly made-up! All i know is that God is with him and he is one helluva fighter— let us see concrete evidence before we take sides…Prayers are with N. Zaidi.
Heres what Salman wrote
Sara,
I am glad that I got you and I am sure others angry.
Salman diagnosed Nayyar with “grandeur”–He himself is badly infected with this disease–He most probably is not a psychiatrist but like most Pakistanis infected with another common disease of “know All”
This nincompoop judging Nayyar like an expert psychiatrist whose words are final & authority–The trend continue when he respond to Sara with his “know all” & “Caught You” Infection.
I wish I could spend more time on this forum to learn the depth of his infection.
Some facts about Salman
He was molested as a kid
He is angry but do not like people to feel sorry for him
He thinks Sara is not his intellectual match to entangle with.
His posts & findings are far superior for the rest of forum to understand specially Sara–No comprehendo for Sara.
Temporal is his only match on this forum as long as he agrees with everything he say.
And off course Salman plays GOLF.
Disclaimer: All the facts are collected from the same thread, This poster apologize in advance if some of the facts are interpreted wrongly.
This is an appeal to all who believe in the innoncence of Nayyar Zaidi—he has been held in a dentention facility since march 2008—so far, no concrete eveidence–as we all know what happened to A.Siddiqui—Our embassy in Washington is doing nothing—just shows how aloof of an ambassador we have–a total ignoranat!! He couldn't do anything for Siddiqui and now for the Zaidi case–he has done nothing!!The community must stand up now or we will always live in fear of being arrested for things we don't do–being held without any bases….contact his wife in va as to what you can do….thanks!
The name & no. of his wife
Mrs. Shaheen Zaidi: 703-643-1668
Syed Zaidi was sentenced to 128 months in prison in April 2010 after a jury convicted him of enticement and travel with intent to engage in sexually explicit conduct…………
He is locked up in Western Pennsylvania FCI facility, and is scheduled to be released in May, 2017. Its a male inmate, low security facility. His ful legal name is Syed Haider Karar Zaidi. After his release, he faces deportation.