Islamabad:
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, clarified that his recent comments on the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, asked themselves in response to a question about the legal situation of former Prime Minister of Primera Varities in the group of experts of the Atlantic Council in Washington, they were taking them out of context.
In a statement published in X, he said: “Yesterday, in response to a question about the case of Imran Khan in the group of experts of the Atlantic Council in Washington, the reference to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is being taken out of context.”
“During the holdings of the governments of PML-N, we have constantly provided all diplomatic and legal assistance for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and we will continue to do so until the issue of his release is resolved.”
Emphasizing the importance of respecting judicial systems, he explained that each country had its judicial and legal procedures, “which must be respected, either Pakistan or the United States.”
“The position of our Government on the issue of the liberation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is clear and unequivocal,” said Foreign Minister.
Currently on an official visit to the United States, FM Dar had addressed the group of experts from the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC.
While answering a question about the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dar had referred to Dr. Siddiqui to underline the principle of respecting judicial processes.
He said that Pakistan had not interfered in the case of Dr. Siddiqui because “the Americans had followed their judicial system.”
Similarly, he added, Imran Khan had been sentenced by the Judicial Power of Pakistan after due legal process. “When due process is followed, others have no right to interfere,” he said.
The comments were abruptly criticized by Dr. Siddiqui’s legal team, and his lawyer described the comparison as “idiot.”
