The Islamabad High Court held a hearing regarding the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, imprisoned in the United States. The court emphasized that next week was crucial and gave essential instructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard.
During the trial, the court said that the next week would be important regarding the Aafia Siddiqui case and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cooperate with Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui.
During the hearing before Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui’s lawyer Imran Shafiq said no response had been received to the letter sent by the Prime Minister to the US President. Additionally, the United States has not received any confirmation of receipt of the letter.
The court also noted that the record of the Prime Minister’s foreign visits had not been submitted, although the court had ordered on December 20 that the details of the Prime Minister’s foreign trips be submitted.
A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the court that the foreign minister was in China, delaying the submission of details. The court granted an extension until next week to submit the Prime Minister’s foreign travel record.
Imran Shafiq also informed the court that Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has arrived in the United States, but she is yet to meet the Pakistani ambassador there. The court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that Dr Fowzia Siddiqui meets Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
The court then adjourned the hearing of Aafia Siddiqui’s case to January 24.
Earlier, the IHC had ordered the government to provide details of the foreign visits of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister since the filing of Dr Afia Siddiqui’s pardon petition in the United States.
The court considered a statement submitted by Dr Afia Siddiqui’s US lawyer, Mr Clive Smith, and commended his efforts.
IHC has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a detailed report on Mr Smith’s statement and address the matter at diplomatic level.
A few months ago, Senator Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that there has been no success yet regarding the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. He said the government had tried to convince U.S. leaders to grant clemency, but had not yet succeeded.
