[JURIST] The former lawyer for the Pakistani doctor who helped the US find Osama bin Laden was shot dead on Tuesday after facing death threats for the representation of his ex-client. Lawyer Samiullah Kahn Afridi was shot [Reuters report] while returning to his Peshawar home. Two Pakistan militant groups, Taliban faction Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaatul Ahrar (TTP-JA) and Taliban splinter group Jundullah, have claimed responsibility for his death. Both groups cited Afridi’s prior representation of Dr. Shakeel Afridi as the reason for the killing. TTP-JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan stated, “Samiullah Afridi had represented his case. That’s why we decided to eliminate him when we can’t approach Dr Shakeel.” It remains unclear which of the groups actually carried out the attack.

Afridi ended his representation [JURIST report] of the Pakistani doctor last May after receiving threats from militants. In a statement to the Associated Press, the lawyer said that he had received a “final” warning from militants. While he had been representing Dr. Shakeel Afridi on humanitarian grounds, Afridi stated that it was not possible for him to continue as he had been warned to “either quit the case or be ready to face the dire consequences.” The lawyer also said that pressure put on Pakistan by the US for his client’s release following his conviction [JURIST report] for providing money and medical treatment to Islamic militants in the Khyber trial region also hurt him. While both the doctor and his lawyers have denied helping the CIA, US lawmakers have confirmed his role in the hunt for bin Laden.