Islamabad, July 10: Freed after 10 months in an American prison on Guantanamo Bay, 51-year-old Pakistani Mohammed Sanghir is demanding USD 10.4 million in compensation and damages from the US government, his lawyer says. Sanghir left Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, last November - the first Pakistani released from the prison currently holding about 600 inmates. He tells of solitary confinement and being caged, and claims he was served alcohol-laced drinks, forbidden by his religion, Islam.

His legal notice, served by Pakistan lawyer Mohammed Ikram Chaudhry in Rawalpindi, was seen yesterday by the Associated Press. "They said, 'you are innocent,'" Sanghir told the news agency at the time at his home in northwest Pakistan. "They didn't say sorry. They just said, 'you can go home.'"

Sanghir, who wore a green plastic wristband with his picture, name, age and prison number us9pk000143dp, said his US captors promised him USD 2,000 in compensation when he got off the plane in Pakistan - but that he received only USD 100. For two months, he tried to get the rest of his money, he said. In December, he threatened to go to court.

Chaudhry said he had mailed the legal notice to the US Embassy in the capital, Islamabad, yesterday and that it named the US State Department, defense department and US Justice Department.

The notice demands a reply within four weeks. If there's no compensation, Chaudhry said a lawsuit would be filed in either a US or Pakistani court or both.

Bureau Report