IHC orders MoFA to approach the US ambassador & seek explanation that why the White House didn’t consider the letter of Pakistani PM about the release of Dr Aafia

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (SABAH): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to approach the US ambassador through diplomatic norms and seek explanation about why the White House didn’t consider the letter of Pakistani Prime Minister about the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

As per details, a single bench of Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaque Khan heard the constitutional petition of Dr Fowzia Siddiqui about the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US custody.

The court in its order said that with respect to the last order, MoFA states that the comments by the Pakistan Embassy are ready but could not be filed due to the absence of the Foreign Secretary from Pakistan. I find that reason to be unconvincing, given that the order was passed on 20.12.2024 and the worthy Secretary left the country only on last Thursday, that is, on 09.01.2025, and even while she was away I do not see how she could not have found a slot of time to be able to review the reply remotely.

The order said: Further, the list of foreign visits mentioned in para 5 has also not been provided yet but it is said by MoFA that it would come along with the reply of the Pakistan Embassy. The reply is to be filed positively within 3 working days from today and a copy of the reply along with the list of visits would be conveyed to the petitioner and the learned amicus simultaneously.

The order said that the MoFA states that the Government has still not received a reply to the Prime Minister’s letter to President Joe Biden for Aafia’s pardon. That is rather unusual, given the diplomatic norms as Mr. Smith reminds MoFA during the hearing.  MoFA states that a reminder was sent by the Pakistan Embassy but apparently no reply to that reminder has been given either.

The court directed the MoFA to place a copy of that reminder along with the reply mentioned in the preceding para on record. Further, MoFA is directed to ensure that the US Ambassador (permanent or acting) in Pakistan is approached to inquire into the reason as to why the White House has not considered it fit and appropriate to respond to the worthy Prime Minister’s letter in an apparent disregard of the diplomatic norms, and to ensure that the contact with the US Ambassador is made no later than close of business tomorrow.  In its reply, MoFA will also add a section in relation to the compliance of this order and the response of the US Ambassador in this regard. The case was relisted on January 24, 2025.