Islamabad:
The High Court of Islamabad (IHC) asked for a government response from Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer to put Dr. Shakeel Afrida to the United States in exchange for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
IHC judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard a petition asking for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the American prison. During the hearing, Clive Smith, lawyer for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, submitted a new declaration to court.
He suggested that Dr. Aafia be exchanged with Dr. Shakeel Afridi.
The court asked the government’s response on suggestion until February 21.
The IHC judge noted that the letter written by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to former American president Joe Biden remained unanswered. He asked for what initiative was taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the court that the ministry of the additional interior secretary held a meeting with the American acting envoy. The court ordered the government to answer each question of the declaration and postponed the hearing until February 21.
