The Islamabad High Court was informed that the United States has rejected Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s clemency appeal.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq remarked that by not releasing Aafia, the U.S. is showing us our place.
He pointed out that a former U.S. president pardoned his own son’s sentence, but our prisoner remains incarcerated.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan presided over the hearing of a petition requesting Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release from a U.S. prison and her repatriation to Pakistan.
The court was informed that U.S. President Joe Biden had rejected Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s clemency appeal and that the U.S. had refused to enter into a prisoner exchange agreement with Pakistan.
Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, along with Aafia’s American lawyer, Clive Smith, appeared via video link.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, and the additional attorney general were also present in the courtroom.
During the proceedings, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq stated that the U.S. is demonstrating its power over us.
He contrasted this with a former U.S. president’s decision to pardon his son’s sentence, yet Dr. Aafia Siddiqui remains imprisoned.
The court was presented with a report containing details of the Prime Minister’s and Foreign Minister’s foreign visits. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also submitted a report addressing the court’s queries.
The court was further informed about the Pakistani ambassador’s lack of involvement in meetings related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. After reviewing the submissions, the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
