Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
August 20, 2009

US Releases Detained Pakistani VOA Reporter
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=261BB1C:A6F02AD83191E16080F01D24E637970F0531BB26A5003E7B&
 
Rahman Bunairee was freed Wednesday, more than one week after he arrived
in US and was taken into custody at Dulles International Airport 
U.S. immigration officials have released a Pakistani journalist who
reports for Voice of America's Deewa Radio and whose home was destroyed
by Taliban militants last month in northwestern Pakistan. Rahman
Bunairee was freed Wednesday, more than one week after he arrived in the
United States and was taken into custody at Dulles International Airport
outside Washington. The Department of Homeland Security has refused to
comment on his case, citing privacy reasons. Bunairee was let go after
U.S. customs authorities determined during an interview with him that he
was seeking protection from harm and that the purpose for which his U.S.
visa had been issued was of secondary importance. Bunairee was traveling
with a valid U.S. (J-1) visa (issued by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad)
allowing him to work in the United States for one year. Bunairee's
ultimate legal status and right to remain in the U.S. will be determined
at a future immigration hearing. The journalist is currently reviewing
his legal options with his attorney. VOA's parent agency, the
Broadcasting Board of Governors, issued a statement welcoming Bunairee's
release. The BBG described Bunairee as a man of extraordinary courage
and dedication whose reporting in Pakistan for VOA provoked the Taliban
to blow up his house and threaten his life. The BBG said it expects
Bunairee will in due course be able to undertake the assignment at VOA
for which he has come to the United States. Bunairee traveled to
Washington to help VOA develop its broadcasts to the troubled
Afghanistan-Pakistan border region through the Radio Deewa service.
Early last month, Bunairee has said, a group of militants came to his
residence in northwestern Pakistan's Buner district and announced they
had orders to blow up the home. The reporter, who was not present at the
time, said the militants allowed 11 members of his family to leave. They
then ransacked the house for valuables before detonating explosives and
destroying the building. No one was reported hurt in the blast, but 
the journalist said militants threatened to take further action if they
found him. Bunairee has suggested the attack on his home may be a
consequence of his news reports saying militant gunmen were still
patrolling in several villages of Buner district - contrary to Pakistani
government claims that most Taliban fighters and their allies had been
eliminated from the area.


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