Dr. Aafia Siddiqui case: IHC seeks list of influential Pakistanis in US for petition to Transfer her to Pak on compassionate grounds or via a PTA

ISLAMABAD, May 10 (SABAH): Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought the list of influential Pakistanis in US for filing a petition with the White House to Transfer or repatriates her on compassionate grounds or via PTA.

As per details, a bench of Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaque Khan heard the constitutional petition of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui for release of her sister Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US jail. After the hearing, the lawyer of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Advocate Imran Shafique told the media outside the court that there were various issues present before the court during the hearing of today. He said it was a long hearing spanning over one hour and 10 minutes. One of the issues before the court was appointing some Pakistani lawyers based in the US for legal issues regarding the transfer of Dr. Aafia from FMC Carswell prison to some normal jail. Though the court had issued many directives to the government and the Foreign Office but in vein. However, the court during the previous hearing had appointed two amici curiae and one of them, Barrister Zainab Janjua, has contacted a Us-based Pakistani lawyer.

American lawyer of Aafia Siddiqui Clive Stafford Smith has also talked to him and it is expected to finalize matters with him today. He would fight the case pro-bono, but basic expenses for filing the case would be paid and a mechanism in this regard with the government would be settled through discussion.

He said the second issue before the court was that the amici curiae had drafted an agreement for prisoners transfer with help of the US lawyers. Such an agreement was also floated in past but it was not implemented. This agreement is as per the rules of the United Nations. The court directed that this draft should be discussed with the related departments of the government of Pakistan, and the Prime Minister should also be apprised of it.

Advocate Imran Shafique said the third issue before the court was that the US administration would change in November and before it a mercy petition should be filed by influential Pakistanis in the US with the White House to repatriate Dr. Aafia to Pakistan so that she could spend the rest of her jail term in her own country. The ministry of foreign affairs told the court that they had no list of such influential Pakistanis in the US. However, the court directed that a comprehensive list of such influential Pakistanis in the US should be filed before the court on the next hearing.

The matter of the next visit of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui and former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan to meet Dr. Aafia in the US jail was also raised during the hearing and additional attorney general assured the court that the government would fully facilitate such visit and this time Dr. Fowzia would face no hassle. The matter of medical aid to Dr. Aafia and visits of a doctor, paramedics and Imam to her were also taken during the hearing.

However, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan told the media that new avenues are being opened for the release of Dr. Aafia. He said the key to the release of Aafia is in Islamabad and if our government takes serious and sincere efforts her release could be easily secured. He said securing repartition of Dr Aafia on compassionate grounds before the next US administration comes is very crucial and serious steps should be taken is this regard. He said he along with Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui and Clive Stafford Smith is scheduled to visit the USA this month and hopefully things would be moved forward. He said if the government shows sincerity and people fully pressurize the government, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui could be released soon.