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Monthly Archives: March 2010
Dr Aafia’s birthday celebrated in Karachi
By Saleem Chandio and Bachal Chandio
KARACHI: On the directives of the president of the Pasban, Altaf Shakoor, the birthday ceremony of Dr Aafia Siddiqui was celebrated here on Tuesday.
The main event in this regard was held at the Karachi Press Club in which a large number of the people belonging to different walks of life participated and paid rich tributes to the brave Pakistani lady, who is presently languishing in a US prison. Cake was cut while a number of pigeons and balloons were also released. President Pasban Altaf Shakoor, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, and civil society representatives were also present on the occasion.
Rally for release of Dr Aafia today
Islamabad : The Pakistan Professional Forum (PPF) will stage a rally at Aabpara Chowk here today (Wednesday) to press the government for securing release of detained Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the US.
Dr. Aafia’s sister, Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, will address the rally to be attended people from different walks of life, especially civil society activists and students.
An American court convicted Dr. Aafia over charges that she tried to kill Americans during her detention in Afghanistan in 2008. A family lawyer immediately announced an appeal, citing ‘prejudice and bias’.
Search for Dr Aafia’s daughter yields startling results
By Saeed Minhas
ISLAMABAD: During efforts to trace Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s missing 11-year-old daughter Mariam, international organisations have stumbled upon nearly a dozen juvenile girls who have been languishing in several Afghan jails, sources privy to the search told Daily Times on Tuesday.
Not much is known about these girls, and most are referred to by the numbers allotted to them, just like Dr Aafia was. Sources said that during their visits to some of the jails, they requested the authorities to transfer these girls out of captivity to a safer place because the harsh environment in these prisons might “ruin their lives”.
Daily Times also learnt that DNA tests of three girls aged between 11 and 12 – who did not appear to be Afghans – were conducted in an attempt to find Mariam, but the tests came back negative.
Pasban finalizes its arrangements to celebrate Dr Aafia’s birthday on March 2nd
Karachi: To celebrate the birthday of Dr Aafia Siddiqui falling tomorrow (March 2nd), Pasban Pakistan has finalized its nationwide arrangements.
The president of the Pasban Pakistan, Altaf Shakoor on Sunday instructed the Pasban provincial, district, city and Taluka presidents and general secretaries to hold programs across the country to celebrate the birthday of the ‘Daughter of Nation’ in a befitting manner. In these programs social, political, religious, human rights and legal fraternity leaders will be invited, besides ensuring a massive participation of the general public.
He said that these programmes will give a loud and clear message to the rulers that the entire nation is supportinmg Dr Aafia and demanding her early release and repatriation from the US illegal detention.
Aafia’s ordeal
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.
Pak Govt. should send delegation to US to get Aafia freed: Imran Khan
Lahore : Former Pakistani captain Imran Khan has called on the Pakistan Government to send an official delegation to the US to negotiate the release of terrorism-accused Pakistani neurologist, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Addressing a press conference, Khan also urged the PML-N to play the role of a responsible opposition party and raise the Aafia issue in the National Assembly.
The Dawn quoted Khan as saying that the PPP Government should take concrete steps for Dr Aafia’s release, and the entire nation should stand united on the issue.
