ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday reassured the National Assembly that it would put up a strong defence of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and make every possible effort to secure her release, as both treasury and the opposition benches criticised it for weak defence. They described the US court’s verdict against Dr Aafia as “miscarriage of justice”.

The National Assembly debated the issue on an adjournment motion, demanding action against those who handed her over to the United States and spending $2 million on a weak legal team that failed to defend her.

PML-Q parliamentary leader Makhdoom Faisal Salah Hayat proposed creation of a parliamentary caucus for interaction with the US Congress and the Obama administration for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The government agreed but remained non-committal.

Winding up the debate on the issue, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amaad Ahmed said a team of three reputed attorneys was hired by the government with the consent of the family of Dr Aafia and it would strongly defend the case when it would be heard by the concerned judge in May this year.

The minister regretted that Dr Aafia was convicted by the jury despite lack of substantial evidence and glaring contradictions in the statements of the witnesses produced by the prosecution. He dispelled the impression that the government did not do well in the case and said two million dollars were spent on the case. He said the government secured consular access to Dr Aafia.

SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk

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