Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : A bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) comprising Justice Sardar Ejaz Khan here Friday heard the case seeking the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui (CP 3139/2015) and in its observations asked some serious questions from the government.
The lawyer of the petitioner Dr Fowzia Siddiqui, Imran Shafique, after the hearing told the media that the Foreign Office (FO) had issued a Demarche and submitted a report in this regard before the honorable court. The judge asked the FO why they made a copy of Demarche confidential. What is the secret to this?
Noting the weak language of the Demarche, the court asked how is this Demarche? Where is the note of protest in this so-called Demarche? It observed that the ambassador of Pakistan has met with the highest officials in the US but we can’t mention the name.
The court also observed that we are a nation of 250 million ‘beggars’.
This is not making any substantive progress.
The court observed: Forget repatriation, we can’t even get her transferred to a decent prison. We need to have an in-camera hearing.
The lawyer of the petitioner, Imran Shafique submitted a declaration.
The court observed that this (the declaration) needs to go into the public domain. It further observed why the US authorities are taking such an inhumane approach.
It asked from the FO: where have you asked the Department of Justice? The FO lawyer answered that in Para 4 & 5. The court asked why a woman who doesn’t have teeth to chew is kept in a high-security prison. She’s no threat to anyone.
The court observed that the government spends millions of rupees on delegations to get foreign investment. It said there are many Pakistani attorneys in the US. You’re telling me there’s not a single person to help you? Are you, are we Pakistanis so helpless? Have you made any effort in this regard? No, No. You’re only writing letters, only after the court pushes you.
The FO submitted that all efforts are being made.
The court observed that the MOFA is required to provide a list of dual-national Pakistani attorneys in the US to seek their help. This will be submitted in private to court.
The court praised the efforts of the lawyer of Aafia Siddiqui in the US, Clive Stafford Smith, and observed we’ll hold your hand and move you forward.
We wouldn’t have gotten this far without your support.
The hearing was adjourned to 16th Feb, 2024.