Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, on Friday and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue extending all possible legal and diplomatic support in Dr. Aafia’s case. During the meeting, the prime minister emphasized that the government had not shown any negligence in the matter and remained fully engaged.
According to a press release issued by the PM Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Dr. Fouzia that efforts to secure Dr. Aafia’s release would persist through appropriate channels. He noted that, acting on his earlier directives, the government had already provided legal and diplomatic assistance to advocate for Dr. Aafia’s rights.
In a significant move, PM Shehbaz had previously written to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging attention to Dr. Aafia’s case. Additionally, a special committee headed by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar was constituted to monitor progress and maintain regular contact with Dr. Fouzia.
The committee will continue to explore avenues for legal redressal and engage with U.S. authorities to ensure that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui receives fair treatment and access to her family.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted in 2010 by a U.S. court on charges of attempted murder of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and is currently serving an 86-year sentence in a Texas prison. Her case has drawn significant attention and sparked debate in Pakistan, where many consider her a victim of injustice. Successive governments have promised to secure her repatriation.
