Altaf Shakoor appeals to COAS Asim Munir to use his good offices for an early release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui

KARACHI, Jan 14 (SABAH): Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor on Tuesday appealed to the Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir to use his good offices for an early release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

He said more than one million people have already signed the mercy petition for the release of Aafia on humanitarian grounds. He said every outgoing US President has the right to pardon prisoners before leaving his office and the outgoing US President Joe Biden has already been using this right. He said now just a few days are left in his leaving his office and this opportunity should not be wasted.

He said General Syed Asim Munir himself is a Hafiz-e-Quran and so is Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He said the release of Aafia due to his efforts would be another hallmark of the distinguished career of the COAS.  He urged him to use his good offices for this noble cause and make a new history.

Altaf Shakoor said that Pakistan has done a lot for the US in this region, especially the services of Pakistan to promote the US cause in Afghanistan are very valuable and US would not refuse if the COAS uses his good offices to seek the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

He said the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui would instill the feeling of security amongst the Pakistani citizens, especially girls and women. He said Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani mother and high ranking scientist and educationalist. Her release would further cement the closer relation between the US and Pakistan.

He said the whole Pakistani nation is behind the COAS in his efforts to foil the conspiracies of terrorists, outside enemies and the fifth columnists inside the country. He appealed to him to use his good offices for the daughter of the nation urgently before the coming of the next US President in White House.