Islamabad: During a pivotal hearing in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) concerning the repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, her sister, Dr. Fawzia Siddiqui, disclosed her persistent efforts to secure her release from a US prison. She revealed that she had written letters to the Director General of ISI and the Army Chief, urging their intervention.
Dr. Fawzia presented these letters in court, accompanied by evidence of acknowledgment through official signatures. The proceedings, presided over by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, included Dr. Fawzia, lawyer Imran Shafiq, Munawar Iqbal Dogal, and US-based lawyer Clive Smith, who joined via video link.
Dr. Fawzia informed the court of her outreach to various key figures, including the President, Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff, DG ISI, and the Ministries of Defence and Interior, seeking their cooperation. She highlighted that despite applying for a B-category US visa, her passport had not been returned.
The court directed authorities to return Dr. Fawzia’s passport immediately and instructed the Foreign Secretary to ensure the issuance of a US visa.
Clive Smith, Dr. Aafia’s US-based lawyer, shared that a Pakistani delegation advocating for Dr. Aafia had faced logistical issues, arriving in the US five days late and reducing their advocacy time to just two days. He also noted a scheduled meeting with Dr. Aafia later in the day.
When questioned about the status of Dr. Fawzia’s visa, the court registrar reported that her application had been rejected. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that a new application was under process and expected to be approved soon.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticizing their negligence and questioning the lack of urgency from Pakistani diplomats in the US.
The court adjourned the hearing until Friday, directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite Dr. Fawzia’s visa approval and ensure no further delays.
