Aafia Siddiqui case: MoFA again failed to submit required record before IHC

ISLAMABAD, July 13 (SABAH): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) yet once again failed to submit the required record before Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday.

As per details, an IHC bench of Justice Sardar Aijaz Khan heard the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui release filed by Dr Fowzia Siddiqui.

The petitioner along with lawyer Imran Shafique appeared before the honorable court. During the last hearing the court asked the MoFA to provide the required documents about meetings and visitations with Dr Aafia Siddiqui by the counsel general besides signing a non-disclosure agreement on the government side with the petitioner.

However, the MoFA officials did not submit the required papers, saying that they were still in process. However, acting foreign secretary and additional law secretary appeared before the court and assured that they would provide the required documents within 10 days.

Advocate Imran Shafique said that on August 4, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui would visit the USA to meet her sister and the provision of the record before her visit is very important. He said Dr Aafia Siddiqui is jailed in a worst prison and the first step should be to transfer her to some other normal prison where the human rights of the inmates are respected. He hoped that the government would fulfill its promise and provide the record about meetings and visitations with 10 days.

On the occasion, talking to media, Aafia Movement leader and noted neurophysician of the country, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that if the counselor staff meets with any prisoner it is their duty to provide the notes of that meeting to the family of that prisoner. She said not providing these details is a crime and violation of international laws.

She regretted that the Pakistani counsel general in USA didn’t provide any record or notes of these meetings to the mother and sister of Dr Aafia, which is a crime. She asked the government to provide such record as per law.