Rulers should take steps for release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui: Hafiz Naeem Rehman

KARACHI, June 19 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman visited the residence of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui who is incarcerated in the American jail. On the occasion Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the rulers should take steps for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

In the meeting, Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Munim Zafar Khan, Deputy Secretary Younis Barai, Town Chairman Gulshan Iqbal Dr. Fawad, Information Secretary Zahid Askari, Iqbal Hashmi, Irfan Syed, Muhammad Ayub, Farrukh Shah and others were also present. Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui welcomed Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and said that Jamaat-e-Islami’s officials are part of our Eid celebrations and they encourage us every year.

On this occasion, Dr. Fowzia informed about the meeting with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is imprisoned in the American jail, and told that there was a glass wall in our meeting, in which it was difficult to hear each other’s voices. She said her sister’s condition is very bad. She is tortured and “I appeal to the government to take steps to release Dr. Aafia.”

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that late Qazi Hussain Ahmed, late Syed Manawar Hassan and other officials including Sirajul Haq have been regularly coming to meet Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui and her mother on the occasion of Eid and have been encouraging them. He said Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been imprisoned in the US prison for 21 years.

He noted former general Pervez Musharraf handed over the daughter of the nation, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, to America for a few dollars and made Pakistan a colony of America and threw Pakistan in the American war, which resulted in Black water, CIA and RAW managed to make their way into Pakistan.

He said that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is the daughter of the nation, adding that the Jamaat-e-Islami has always raised its voice for her release. He said in 21 years many governments have come and gone and all of them came to meet Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui but nothing actually happened. He said despite all the differences, Jamaat-e-Islami is ready to cooperate with the government to bring back the daughter of the nation.

He said, “Prime Minister should play his part. Nothing will be gained from American slavery. It is not a matter of taking credit, it is a matter of the nation, it is a problem of the entire Ummah, America, which teaches peace to the whole world, and actually sentenced Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison for a crime that has no evidence.”