IHC asks MoFA to play an active role in the repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD, Mar 17 (SABAH): Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday observing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) seems not playing its due role in the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, asked the ministry to play an active role in this regard.

The lawyer of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Imran Shafiq told the media that an IHC bench of Justice Sardar Aijaz Ishaque Khan heard the constitutional petition (3139/2015) of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui. He said the honourable court during Friday’s long hearing observed that the MoFA seems incapable to understand the legal obstacles in way of the release and repartition of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The lawyer said that our stance was that not only the required capacity was not there but there was also a lack of will power. He said that we have submitted a confidential and privileged communication of the US lawyer Clive Safford Smith J with the honourable court about his meeting with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and his suggestion regarding a way out to seek the release of Dr Aafia. He said that the honorable court asked the MoFA to provide the required assistance and record to Clive Safford Smith J, who is also due in Pakistan in next May to assist the court. He would also take necessary legal course in the US.

However, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan talking to media said that he has been raising this issue inside and outside the parliament for many years. He said that Hina Rabbani Khar has assured him that she would meet Dr. Aafia and brief the parliament about her case. He said the hearing of today has shown a ray of hope that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui would soon return home.

However, noted neurophysician of the country and leader of Aafia Movement Pakistan Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said that the hurdles in way of the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui are not in the USA but instead here in Pakistan. She urged the government of Pakistan to change its attitude and take serious efforts for release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.