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REVEALED: Why was Zaid Hamid detained in Saudi Arabia?

01:23 PM | 12 Oct, 2015
REVEALED: Why was Zaid Hamid detained in Saudi Arabia?
LAHORE (Staff Report) - Finally, Pakistan’s renowned defence analyst Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid has shared the details of his over three-month detention by Saudi authorities.

“Saudi government arrested me because they were told by agents of Indian spy agency RAW that I am an Iranian spy,” Mr Hamid wrote on his official Facebook account on Monday morning.

The allegation was serious and Saudis had to do their own investigations to know the truth, he added.

j3“My picture with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and my two official visits to Iran were given to Saudis as evidence that I am an Iranian agent.

“Also, my TV program on DIN News in which I had strongly opposed sending Pakistani troops to Yemen were exploited as evidence that I work for Iranian govt. This was the trap set for me."

Read more: Zaid Hamid released by Saudi Arabia, back in Pakistan

When Mr Hamid reached Saudi Arabia, the RAW agents were already present there to set the trap. They informed the Saudis and then the Saudis launched a massive investigation to know his credentials and within weeks knew that all the allegations were false.

“The demands by Indian government that I should be handed over to India also alarmed the Saudis that something is wrong here. If I was an Iranian agent, why India was so interested that I should be handed over to India,” Mr Hamid says.

His wife played a key role in negotiating with the Saudis and giving them evidence that Mr Hamid is a patriot Pakistani and not the Iranian agent.

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“Our resistance to sending Pak troops to Yemen was based on our love for Pakistan and Ummah and not because we served Iranian interests,” Mr Hamid writes.

According to Mr Hamid, the statements by Pakistani ministers of PML-N government against him created more confusion in the minds of Saudis that delayed his release. “I was not helped by PML-N government at all.

Read more: Zaid Hamid arrested in Saudi Arabia, confirms Foreign office

“But once Saudis were satisfied that I was not an Iranian spy, I was released with dignity and respect. Ramazan, Eid holidays and then Hajj vacations delayed the release but finally after Hajj we were sent back with dignity on exit stamp, not deported.”

Earlier, Pakistani officials claimed that Pakistani security agencies and foreign office officials played key in his release. “Pakistan’s strong stance pushed Saudi authorities to change their mind about convicting him for the charges of hate speech,” the official sources said last month.

Read more: Saudi officials refuse Pakistan access to Zaid Hamid

Mr Hamid went on to say that if he were an Iranian spy, the Saudis would have never released him within weeks nor let him go with dignity. They would rather have hanged or deported him otherwise. “Spies in Saudi Arabia are NOT released at all!” Mr Hamid says.

He also clarified the controversies surrounding his wife, Ms Tayyaba, who was confused with Khanum Tayyaba Bokhari, a Shia scholar who appears on TV programmes. “This is again a deliberate lie being spread to prove that we are Iranian agents. My wife stayed in Medina throughout even when her visa was expired and the Saudi govt did not deport her either.”

Zaid Hamid has also vowed soon to expose the “snakes, traitors and enemies” involved in this sinister conspiracy.

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Zaid Hamid is often dubbed as close to Pakistani military establishment, who is time and again seen holding foreign intelligence agencies including Indian RAW, Israeli Mosad and American CIA responsible for worsening law and order situation in Pakistan.

According to him the militant group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is actually a proxy of anti-Pakistan countries. He also leads a local organisation that is struggling for the restoration Islamic caliphate inside Pakistan.

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Rupee remains stable against US dollar, Euro, Pound, Dirham and Riyal; check forex rates

Pakistani rupee remained stable against US dollar in the open bank market on Friday.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Friday, the US dollar was being quoted at 285.3 for buying and 288.15 for selling.

Euro moves down to 311 for buying and 314 for selling. British Pound rate stands at 358.5 for buying, and 361.5 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED stands at 78 whereas the Saudi Riyal rate stands at 76.20.

Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan – 1 December 2023

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 285.3 288.15
Euro EUR 311 314
UK Pound Sterling GBP 358.5 361.5
U.A.E Dirham AED 78 78.7
Saudi Riyal SAR 76.2 77
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 759.67 767.67
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.59 39.98
Danish Krone DKK 41.38 41.78
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.63 36.98
Indian Rupee INR 3.39 3.5
Japanese Yen JPY 1.49 1.56
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 926.7 935.7
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 60.38 60.98
New Zealand Dollar NZD 173.44 175.44
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.25 26.55
Omani Riyal OMR 741.26 749.26
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.63 78.33
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 26.93 27.23
Swiss Franc CHF 325.9 328.4
Thai Bhat THB 8.23 8.38

Gold rates drop in Pakistan; Check today’s gold rates 1 December 2023

KARACHI – The gold price continues to climb up in the local market in line of upward trend in international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 1 December 2023

On Thursday, the single tola of 24 Karat gold was available at Rs217,400, and the price for 10-gram gold reached Rs186,390.

Meanwhile, the 22 Karat Gold price stands at Rs199,282, 21 karat rate for each tola is Rs190,225 and 18k gold rate hovers around Rs163,050.

In international market, the price of precious metal hovers around $2,045 per ounce.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Karachi PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Islamabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Peshawar PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Quetta PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Sialkot PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Attock PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Gujranwala PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Jehlum PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Multan PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Bahawalpur PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Gujrat PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Nawabshah PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Chakwal PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Hyderabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Nowshehra PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Sargodha PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Faisalabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696
Mirpur PKR 217,400 PKR 2,696

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