IHC orders Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide facilitation to Dr. Aafia Siddique’s family members for provision of US visa

ISLAMABAD, June 24 (SABAH): Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide facilitation to the family members of Dr. Aafia Siddique for provision of US visa.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) conducted hearing on a petition filed by Dr. Fowzia Siddique on Friday, seeking her sister Dr. Aafia Siddiqui return back to Pakistan from the US custody.

IHC’s Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan conducted the hearing of the case. Applicant Dr. Fowzia Siddique along with her lawyer Dr. Sajid Qureshi appeared before the court while Director USA Rajeel Mohsin appeared on the behalf of Foreign Ministry and submitted report with the IHC.

Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan inquired has any contact been made with Dr. Aafia. To this Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui’s lawyer said, “There has been no contact as yet.” Whereas the representative of the Foreign Ministry said that they tried to contact her but jail authorities told them that Dr. Aafia Siddique was not willing to contact with her family and they can’t suppress her to do so.” On the other side the applicant’s lawyer argued that Dr. Aafia is now at Federal Medical Centre Texas.  

The court inquired has Pakistan’s consul general contacted with the applicant or her family. To this, the representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that consul general is in regular contact with the applicant Dr. Fowzia Siddique.

Furthermore the applicant’s lawyer commented that it is beyond their understanding that Dr. Aafia doesn’t like to contact with the family members. To this Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan observed that why the consul general will talk against facts and figures. To this representative of Foreign Ministry said that the ministry will try to provide visa to her sister so that she may visit the US to see her sister. The court inquired the applicant’s lawyer that has he met with Dr. Aafia. To this he said, ‘no.’

“According to the jail warden, 500 minutes are given for meeting purpose,” he judge observed. On this Dr. Fowzia Siddique said that they want to facilitate a meeting among father, mother and their daughter Dr. Aafia. She further argued before the court that her brother has always passed days outside the jail to hold a meeting with her on the occasions of Eid, Christmas and Holi but in vain. “My brother has always been told that his sister had died which is raising eyebrows as no meeting has been held between them as yet,” she pointed out before the honourable court.

Dr. Fowzia further argued before the court that a lawyer at the US had told her that he had seen Dr. Aafia to be in critical conditions. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan inquired from Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui if the jail authorities were not allowing the said meeting then which of the order this court should pass.

The court further asked Dr. Fowzia Siddique does she wish to pay a visit to the US for holding a meeting with her sister. To this, she replied that she wants to visit the US but for the purpose the embassy will have to ensure her protection lest she be put behind the bars in the US. The ministry representative said that they will apply visa for Dr. Fowzia but they don’t know whether it is accepted or rejected. The court has adjourned the further hearing of the case for 30 days.