Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally requested that US President Joe Biden pardon Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving an 86-year sentence in the United States. Dr. Siddiqui was convicted in 2010 for allegedly attacking US personnel in Afghanistan. The prime minister’s plea, detailed in a letter dated October 13, highlights concerns regarding Dr. Siddiqui’s deteriorating mental and physical health after 16 years in prison.
Expressing the gravity of the situation, PM Shehbaz cited multiple consular visits by Pakistani officials, all of whom raised concerns about the treatment Dr. Siddiqui has faced during her incarceration. The officials fear her worsening condition could drive her to harm herself.
“As prime minister, it is my solemn duty to intervene when the wellbeing of my citizens is at stake, especially under such dire circumstances,” Sharif stated in the letter. He appealed to President Biden, referencing the US leader’s past efforts to advocate for the rights of American citizens held abroad, and urged Biden to show similar compassion towards Dr. Siddiqui.
Sharif also pointed to the deep ties between the two nations, emphasizing the “warmth and genuine friendship” Biden has shown towards Pakistan. He requested that the US president exercise his constitutional authority and grant clemency to Dr. Siddiqui purely on humanitarian grounds.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, now 52, was apprehended by US forces in Afghanistan in 2008. According to court documents, she allegedly possessed sodium cyanide and opened fire on US agents during interrogation. Though the soldiers were unharmed, she was convicted on seven charges, including attempted murder.
In a significant legal development earlier this month, a US judge granted Siddiqui’s legal team access to confidential evidence that may bolster her clemency request. Her legal representatives, including British lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, have filed a comprehensive petition detailing perceived injustices in her case.
This move by the Pakistani government reflects ongoing efforts to secure Dr. Siddiqui’s release, a matter of great public concern in Pakistan.
