Islamabad: In the case related to the repatriation of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui imprisoned in the United States, the Islamabad High Court on Friday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the help of Dr. Fawzia Siddiqui, the younger sister of the imprisoned scientist. legal front.
The government, while ensuring the provision of assistance to Dr. Aafia, informed the court about the meeting of its officials with the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Bloom, regarding the matter.
The government told the court that the issue of the release of the Pakistani citizen has been raised at the diplomatic level in America.
Last month, the court had directed the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the US ambassador expressing dissatisfaction over efforts to release Dr. Aafia and sought a signed report from the ministry and its secretary.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the petition filed by Dr. Fawzia’s sister to return to Pakistan, the petitioner along with her lawyer reached the court.
Reacting to the government’s action in the case, Additional Attorney General Manoor Iqbal Dogal said that the Pakistani authorities had met the American diplomat after the court’s order.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan said that neither the Foreign Secretary nor the Foreign Minister is aware of the orders of the court.
The court sought details of the proceedings of the meeting and questioned whether it was merely held over “coffee and cake”.
“Any idea what happened at that meeting?” He asked Iqbal to which he replied that this matter has been raised at the diplomatic level.
Dr. Fawzia’s lawyer informed the court about hiring another lawyer in America for Dr. Aafia. The lawyer added that it seems the government is helpless in this matter.
Giving remarks during the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that this is the seventh or eighth hearing. The government does not want to do anything in this regard. We also have jurisdiction and can only act within our limits.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till March 17 and ordered the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet Dr. Fauzia.
Last summer, the IHC directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate Dr. Aafia’s family to obtain visas to the United States, so that they could visit the country and see her.
Dr. Aafia was indicted by a federal district court in New York in September 2008 on charges of attempted murder and assault, stemming from an incident during an interview with US officials in Ghazni, Afghanistan. – These allegations were denied by him.
After 18 months in custody, he was tried and convicted in early 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison. Since then he has been incarcerated in an American prison.
