The High Court of Islamabad (IHC) has raised concerns about the transfer of detainees to the United States without an official prisoner exchange agreement because it heard a plea requesting the repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
On Friday, during the hearing, the federal government submitted a request requesting the immediate disposition of advocacy for the release of Siddiqui.
The court published an opinion on the government’s request and asked for an answer, reported Express News.
Judge Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan asked why Pakistan had given Daesh Sharifullah commander to the United States despite no official prisoner exchange treatments.
Addressing the Additional Prosecutor General (AAG), he pointed out: “You claim that there is no agreement, but an inmate was delivered without one.”
The court also referred to the Dr. Shakil Afridi affair, declaring that the government had had the opportunity for camera procedures concerning its possible transfer to the United States, but its response had been unsatisfactory.
Judge Khan also observed that the government seemed to have the case of Aafia Siddiqui, adding that such actions would be noticed internationally.
“The Prime Minister wrote a letter, visas have been issued-everything could be done has been done. Does that mean that the government wants to wash the hands of the case?” He asked.
The hearing was followed by the lawyer for the petitioner Imran Shafiq Advocate, Aag Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Dr Fouzia Siddiqui and the American lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who appeared via a video link.
The court postponed the hearing until next Friday while issuing an opinion on the government’s request.
How did Dr Aafia Siddiqui end up in Texas?
The case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui began in 2003 after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the September 11 brain of Al-Qaeda. Siddiqui, married to the nephew of KSM, disappeared with his children in Karachi, later winning the title “Lady al-Qaeda” due to alleged ties with Al-Qaeda.
In 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan, carried sodium cyanide and attack plans against American targets. During the interrogation, Siddiqui would have fought on the rifle of an American soldier and would have tried to shoot American agents, shouting “Death to America”. She was injured in the process and then showed signs of serious ill -treatment.
Siddiqui’s son was released in Afghanistan, while his other two children are unknown. In 2010, she was found guilty of attempted murder in the United States and sentenced to 86, although she had never been accused of direct links with terrorism.
