The Islamabad High Court held a hearing regarding the release and repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, imprisoned in the United States. The court stressed that next week is crucial and issued essential instructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard.
During the proceedings, the court stated that the next week would be important in relation to the Aafia Siddiqui case and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cooperate with Dr Fowzia Siddiqui.
During the hearing before Judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui’s lawyer Imran Shafiq stated that no response had been received to the letter sent by the Prime Minister to the President of the United States. Furthermore, there was no confirmation from the United States regarding receipt of the letter.
The court also noted that the record of the Prime Minister’s foreign visits had not been produced, even though the court had on December 20 ordered that details of the Prime Minister’s foreign trips be produced.
A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the court that the Foreign Minister was in China, which delayed the presentation of the details. The court granted an extension until next week to submit the Prime Minister’s foreign travel history.
Imran Shafiq also informed the court that Dr Fowzia Siddiqui has arrived in the United States but is yet to meet the Pakistani ambassador there. The court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that Dr Fowzia Siddiqui met Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
The court then adjourned the hearing of Aafia Siddiqui case till January 24.
Earlier, IHC directed the government to provide details of the foreign visits of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister since the submission of Dr Afia Siddiqui’s clemency petition in the United States.
The court reviewed a plea submitted by Dr Afia Siddiqui’s US lawyer, Mr Clive Smith, and praised his efforts.
IHC directed the Ministry of External Affairs to submit a detailed report on Mr Smith’s statement and take up the matter at the diplomatic level.
A few months ago, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, Senator Ishaq Dar, announced that the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui had not yet been achieved. He explained that the government has tried to persuade American leaders to grant him a pardon, but has not yet achieved success.
