Govt upsets IHC on seeking more time for considering consent for amicus brief of Aafia on compassionate grounds

ISLAMABAD, Sep 02 (SABAH): To consider the matter of writing an amicus brief note regarding the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds the government of Pakistan on Monday sought more time from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

As per details, the single bench of Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaque Khan of IHC heard the constitutional petition of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui regarding the release of her sister Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

After the hearing, the lawyer of Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Imran Shafique told the media that today the secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs (MoFA) was present before the court besides additional attorney general Munawar Iqbal Duggal. He said during the last hearing the court had asked the government to tell whether it had approved the amicus brief on the case of Aafia Siddiqui. He said it was a simple matter. The American lawyers of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui have to file a motion for compassionate release for Aafia in the American court that had sentenced her to jail and the government of Pakistan has just to write a brief note that it is not against the release of Aafia on compassionate humanitarian grounds.

He said that the secretary MoFA told the court that the government of Pakistan would have to contact a lawyer in the USA and get his opinion if the government of Pakistan should give this consent note or not, and that this was a lengthy process as all government departments would be taken on board. Dr. Aafia’s American lawyers informed the court that they are all American lawyers and advice so the court noted that these delaying tactics are baseless, since the government has already stated in court that it is willing to do anything to bring Aafia home. The court does not understand the paranoia.

He said that the court expressed astonishment on this and asked the additional attorney general that the government should take a courageous stance on the matter and tell whether it is ready for this note or not. The government should not be spineless on this issue.

He said another issue before the court was that the American lawyers would file a clemency petition for Aafia before the American president in November and the court asked the government if it would support this clemency motion. The additional attorney general said that the government would consider it if the draft of that motion is shared with it. The court gave time till September 13 to share the draft with the government.

He said regarding the prisoners transfer agreement (PTA), the government sought a time of five weeks but court denied it saying even 4 weeks is more than enough.

Jamaat-e-Isalmi leaders former senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Shahid Shamsi, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Chairman Azam Minhas, Aafia Movement Islamabad leaders Farooq Shah, Farukh Shah and others were also present on the occasion.