Dr Aafia Siddiqui case IHC asks some serious questions from govt

By Imtiaz Hussain Abro

Dr Aafia Siddiqui case IHC asks some serious questions from govt

A division of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), presided over by Justice Sardar Ejaz Khan on Friday, addressed the case seeking the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (CP 3139/2015) and raised significant questions directed at the government during the proceedings.

Following the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Imran Shafique, informed the media that the Foreign Office (FO) had issued a Demarche and submitted a report on the matter to the court. The judge inquired why the copy of the Demarche was labeled confidential and questioned the necessity for secrecy. The court, noting the weak language of the Demarche, questioned its effectiveness, specifically asking where the note of protest was in this document. It observed that although the Pakistani ambassador had met with high-ranking US officials, the court was not privy to the names involved.

Expressing frustration, the court remarked that as a nation of 250 million, the lack of substantive progress was disheartening. The court emphasized the need for an In Camera hearing, stating that even the transfer of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to a decent prison was proving challenging.

Imran Shafique, the petitioner’s lawyer, submitted a declaration, which the court insisted should be made public. It questioned the inhumane approach of US authorities and inquired whether the Foreign Office had sought assistance from the Department of Justice.

The court highlighted the discrepancy of spending millions on delegations for foreign investment while failing to utilize the assistance of Pakistani attorneys in the US. It challenged the government’s efforts, stating that writing letters after court intervention was insufficient. The Foreign Office claimed to be making all possible efforts, prompting the court to instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to provide a private list of dual national Pakistani attorneys in the US for seeking assistance.

The court commended the efforts of Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer in the US, Clive Stafford Smith, expressing gratitude for his support and pledging to support him further. The hearing was adjourned until February 16, 2024.