This is in response to the article ‘Caravans and howling of stray animals’ by Farhat Taj in which Taj blames the media to be involved in a pro-Taliban, high profile campaign for the release of Pakistan’s scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui, for whom she believes, the entire nation is constantly promoting a one-sided view. Dr Aafia and her entire family, like many others, has been the victim of war on terror.

While the lamenting of others has gone unheard, the tragedy of Aafia became known when a British journalist wrote about her wretched cries from Afghanistan’s Abu Ghraib prison where she was confined in a dark cell for 5 years without trial, charging her for harbouring links with Al-Qaeda, which later on shifted to attempted murder of a US soldier, who was irresponsible enough to leave his gun within easy reach of the convict.

The allegations made by Taj where she proves Aafia’s involvement in terrorism by giving very weak evidence of just one American Journalist Deborah Scroggins who made inquiries about Dr Aafia while writing a book about her is completely baseless as they were nothing but fabricated accounts to construct false reality. The people of Pakistan are well aware of the manipulation and exploitation of situations by the neo imperialists as authentic sources also hint that Pakistan’s nuclear scientist Dr Qadeer too is a prospective target. Aafia’s case has been pursued by her sister Fauzia, who has been in constant contact with the government for the release of Aafia and her two children. The truth is Aafia Siddiqui’s tragic ordeal didn’t begin in Afghanistan, but in Pakistan when she was abducted by the FBI.

All the evidences go in her favour therefore the entire nation supports her and is demanding Aafia’s safe return to Pakistan along with her children. I suggest that Ms Taj get her facts straight about the reality of Taliban and how far removed is the Pakistan army from them before constructing a biased opinion and making it public too. The Taliban are on the other side of the fence while the army serves to safeguard the nation by countering terrorism. The false allegations on an army personal who Taj mentions to be involved in assaulting Dr Shazia, were rendered groundless after profound investigations and DNA tests along with Dr Shazia’s statement.

Similarly, the political parties who advocate the importance of dialogue between government and Taliban cannot be classed as pro Taliban but pro Pakistan. Furthermore, many such cases may have slipped into oblivion due to lack of followers, but this case has succeeded in bringing a change in the political attitude which indicates that many others would not face the same fate, as such cases throughout history have been the cause of revolution.

Dr. Lubna Umar
Islamabad

SOURCE : Dailymailnews.com

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