Efforts on to ensure Dr Aafia’s return, SHC told
KARACHI: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was making efforts on a diplomatic front to ensure the return of Dr Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan.
This was stated in comments filed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday before a division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC). When the petition filed by a human rights organisation came up for hearing, Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Ashraf Mughal submitted comments on behalf of the respondent ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.
The statement said that Dr Aafia was arrested from Afghanistan on July 17, 2008 and was presently detained by US authorities. She is receiving medical treatment, according to the comments. The Ministry of Defence denied any nexus with her arrest or detention.
As the counsel for petitioner Intikhab Alam Suri, represented by Iqbal Aqeel Advocate sought time to go through the comments, the court adjourned the hearing till March 13. The petitioner maintained that Dr Aafia was illegally detained and should be repatriated to Pakistan with her son.
SOURCE: www.dailytimes.com.pk
