Senate body summons Faisal Saleh Hayat, Kamal Shah for extraditing Dr. Aafia
ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior has summoned Former Federal Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah in committee next meeting for extraditing Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to United States of America in 2004.
On the other hand, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Talha Mehmood has made it clear Former President Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf can also be summoned in the meeting if needed.
Senator Talha Mehmood chaired the committee meeting held in Parliament house on Saturday and attended by Dr. Mohammad Malik, Almas Praveen, Sughra Imam, Haji Adeel, high level authorities of interior, foreign and law and justice ministries. Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui who is in US detention also participated in the meeting on special invitation.
Additional Interior Secretary told the committee that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui along with her three children went missing in 2003 and in 2004 on the identification of British journalist we knew that she was kept in Afghanistan and after detail investigation it was revealed that she was extradited to US in 2004. All efforts are being made through diplomatic channel for release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and Government has also hired lawyers to run her case in the US, he said.
The authorities of foreign ministry told the committee that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani raised the issue of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui during visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but we have got no answer. We are raising the matter at every forum, they said, adding that, the issue can not be raised at international court of justice due to some complexities.
Government of Pakistan has paid 2 million dollar to fight case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, they added. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Talha Mehmood welcoming the amount allocated to run case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui directed concerned authorities to ensure proper utilization of money.
Fouzia Siddiqui, daughter of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui told the committee that we are a sovereign nation and the case of her sister should be run in international court of justice. She said the condition of her sister is much deteriorating and despite assurance of Government of Pakistan she is still in custody. In human behavior is being meted out with her sister in detention center, she said.
Chairman Committee Senator Talha Mehmood asked the authorities of foreign ministry to why councilor access was being denied to Pakistani languishing in jails of US.
The authorities of foreign ministry informed the committee that 6,377 Pakistani are languishing in jails of United States and report in this respect would be submitted to committee within 15 days.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee Talha Mehmood urged US to release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui unconditionally if it intends to make a room in hearts of Pakistani people.
The case of Dr. Affair should be run in international court of justice, he said.
SOURCE: Onlinenews.com.pk
