The Islamabad High Court has ordered a detailed report on the extradition of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to US authorities to be submitted by Friday. The court was hearing the case concerning Dr. Siddiqui’s health and her possible return to Pakistan.
During the session, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s sister, Fauzia Siddiqui, appeared via video link, emphasizing that the Pakistani government holds the key to her sister’s return. She urged the government to expedite efforts, especially given the current Biden administration, warning that delays could occur with the arrival of a new US administration.
Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer, Mr. Smith, presented his affidavit to the court, highlighting that in 2003, the Sindh government handed Dr. Siddiqui and her children over to the ISI, who then transferred them to the United States. The court has now requested a detailed report on this extradition process by Friday.
Fauzia Siddiqui also alleged that Dr. Aafia is being subjected to electric shocks in an American jail for reading the Quran.
The Islamabad High Court posed two critical questions regarding Dr. Siddiqui’s extradition: whether the ISI had any evidence against her and if the agency had the authority to transfer her and her children to another party.
The Additional Attorney General requested that the court address agency-related questions separately to avoid complicating the petition’s resolution. However, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan questioned how these issues could be separated once brought before the court, noting that no orders would be issued immediately.
Justice Khan instructed that a comprehensive report addressing the judiciary’s queries be provided by Friday. Additionally, the court directed the Foreign Ministry’s lawyer to submit a detailed response from their office, warning that failure to do so would result in everyone being retained in court.
The hearing was adjourned until Friday, with the court expecting detailed reports from the Additional Attorney General and the Foreign Ministry.
