Govt of Pakistan officially requests presidential pardon for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Oct 18 (SABAH): Aafia Movement leader and the noted neurophysician of the country Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui on Friday warmly welcomed the government of Pakistan for writing a letter to the US administration regarding the release of Pakistani woman scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

Earlier, the government of Pakistan officially requested a presidential pardon for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, currently imprisoned in the United States.

During a hearing on the ongoing efforts for her release and repatriation, the Additional Attorney General, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, informed the court that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to the U.S. President, seeking a pardon for Dr. Afia Siddiqui.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan presided over the case, which was filed by Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Aafia Siddiqui, requesting the government’s efforts for her release and safe return to Pakistan. Advocate Imran Shafiq appeared in court on behalf of Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, emphasizing the urgency of the matter and expressing hopes that the letter would pave the way for her repatriation.

Later commenting on this positive development, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said that the government now should take continuous efforts to seek early release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

She said the whole nation is behind the government because it is showing seriousness to safeguard the rights of its citizens.

She said this is the first step and the government now needs to build momentum. She said delegations should also be sent to the US for this purpose. She said the Pakistani citizens should write letters to the US president for the release of Dr. Aafia on clemency and humanitarian grounds.

She said the step of the government to write letter for the release of its citizens would further improve the status of Pakistan. She said if the government continued to take such brave steps it could even break the debt trap of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

However, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor welcomed the government of Pakistan letter to the US administration regarding the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. He said this is the first time that the government of Pakistan has taken a really serious step for any citizen illegally jailed abroad. He said we highly appreciate the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for this brave move and hope that the government would continue to safeguard the rights of its citizens.