On Friday, the federal government informed the High Court of Islamabad (IHC) of an exchange proposal from Dr. Aafia Siddiqui for Shakeel Afridi.
IHC judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard a petition asking for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the American prison.
During the hearing, the additional prosecutor Manzoor Iqbal Dogar argued that the proposal to put Afridi in exchange for the release of Siddiqui was not possible.
The proposal was initially suggested by Dr Siddiqui’s lawyer, Clive Smith, as part of the efforts to ensure his release.
He also expressed concerns concerning issues in a petition project submitted in an American court concerning the Dr. Siddiqui case. Judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan expressed his surprise in the face of the government’s position, which seemed to withdraw the support of Siddiqui’s request from the American Court.
The IHC ordered the head of the law to consult the government and provide an answer to any objection raised by the audience of the following Friday.
Dogar also noted that Shakeel Afridi and Aafia Siddiqui are Pakistani nationals and stressed that Pakistan had no agreement with the United States on prisoner exchanges.
During the hearing, judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq inquired about the importance of Afridi for the United States and asked for an update on his case.
Zainab Janjua, a court assistant, informed the court that Shakeel Afridi is sentenced, his appeal still pending before the High Court of Peshawar (PHC).
Fauzia Siddiqui’s lawyer Imran Shafiq said that Fridida was facing charges of spying and providing assistance.
Iqbal Dogar also informed the court that a letter on the issue was submitted on February 19, but former American president Joe Biden rejected the request without recognizing it.
To this, judge Khan raised concerns about the lack of response from the White House and questioned the diplomatic convenience to send an unanswered letter.
Subsequently, the IHC postponed the case of the case until next Friday.
Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving an 86-year sentence in the United States, following her conviction by a New York Federal Court in 2010 for attempted murder and other charges.
