Aafia is serving an 86-year sentence in the US on charges of attempting to kill US officials in Afghanistan. She is also widely believed to have been supporting al Qaeda.

Those banners, according to Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, have been removed at her behest as Fauzia does not believe this is the “right way” to ask for money and the banners were put up while she was not in Pakistan.

“It is not appropriate to ask for alms and donations for daughters. It is a daughter’s right.”

Fauzia Siddiqui was cagey in her responses over how the fundraising and legal appeal would work.

“Once we know how much the lawyer(s) fee will be, we will arrange that people directly contribute to the lawyers’ fund. I do not want to be involved in the middle. I also don’t want people to allege that I collected money in my sister’s name,” she said.

Since Aafia’s current legal defence team is court-appointed, there appears to be no need of funds for her case.

While she already has court-appointed lawyers, Fauzia says Aafia and their family have no confidence in the legal team.

Fauzia Siddiqui wants to engage Tina Foster of the International Justice Network, who represents their family, as Aafia’s lawyer. “We already saw what kind of case they (court-appointed lawyers) fought, without any witnesses or forensic evidence,” she told The Express Tribune. “They are corporate lawyers, they’re not criminal lawyers. We need proper appellate lawyers to fight the case.”

Aafia’s court-appointed lawyer Dawn Cardi’s website states that she has over 30 years of experience with the criminal defence system. Her firm specialises in matrimonial and family law, criminal defence and select federal and New York State litigation. She could not be immediately reached for comment.

However, Fauzia said Foster is not a criminal lawyer either.

While Fauzia said she would be meeting with and finalising the legal team in the first week of October, she declined to say if she would be meeting them in the US.

After being sentenced, Aafia fired her lawyers and waived her right to an appeal. In a letter to the presiding judge in her case, she stated: “I waive all my rights to file an appeal against the unjust sentence given to me on September 23, 2010. Nobody has the right to appeal it on my behalf in any court of law in the world. I have made my appeal to God and it has been answered.”

Fauzia also said the family is also getting visitation rights to Aafia, though she claims that in the past, their brother has been turned away from the jail by officials who allegedly told him that “normal rules do not apply to your sister”. Aafia is currently incarcerated at the Carswell prison in Texas.

SOURCE : Tribune.com.pk

 Eid al-Fitr, 2011/1432

Today we are waiting. We have had a lot of days like this since Aafia and her children disappeared in 2003. There might be some good news. There might be some bad news. There might be no news at all. That is just the way it is some days.

We have to take the time this Eid al-Fitr to acknowledge some special groups of people.

Aafia’s supporters in Pakistan and around the world who marched in peaceful demonstrations in the brutal heat and humidity of August, while fasting, to remind everyone that neither Aafia nor her missing son Suleman have been forgotten. Faith, resolve, and courage will always make powerful people nervous. Especially this year.

Aafia probably does not know about your efforts yet, but you have made her proud. She has repeatedly said she does not want people committing violence in her name. By marching peacefully you have helped her maintain her dignity, the one thing her captors cannot take from her.

And those of you from all over the world who responded to our request to send Aafia a Ramadan postcard. Many of you went beyond that simple action and Tweeted, posted, and blogged our request: A postcard, a stamp, and a couple of computer clicks that didn’t take you more than a few seconds. An act so simple that it was something you could have easily done while breaking your fast.

We do not know if Aafia was allowed to receive any of these postcards. Her mail is restricted in an unpredictable manner. If she was allowed to receive your cards you gave her great joy. If not, you reminded those holding her that they are being judged for their actions.

The prophet Buy accutane online Issa (Jesus) is quoted in the Holy Bible:

“I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.”*
*(Matthew, 25:45 New Living Translation, 2007)

For your acts of kindness and support we cannot begin to express our gratitude.

Eid Mubarak from Aafia’s family.

SOURCE : Freeaafia.org

Sohail Warrich Presents a fresh episode of Aik Din Geo Ke Saath on Geo News Talk With Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui.

Part-1

Part-2

All IN 1 Part

It’s been 3000 days of Afia’s abduction from Karachi with her three children, two of whom have been released but Suleman, who was six months old when she was abducted, is still missing. Her family says that their repeated tries to know something about him went in vain and they were left with worries and fear.
Press TV’s Muhammad Toori reports from Karachi

Watch In Youtube

Earlier Pakistan Press Counsellor in Afghanistan Naeem Khan talking to PTV confirmed the taking over the custody of Muhammad Ahmed and added he was being sent to Pakistan.

He said the Afghan Ministry of Home Affairs handed over Dr. Aafia’s son to Pakistan Consulate in Kabul at 1030 hours on Monday.

Naeem Khan said Muhammad Ahmed was in good physical and mental health Buy Cipro Online Pharmacy No Prescription Needed and ‘he is OK and fine.’

To a question about other two children (son and daughter) of Dr. Aafia, he said only Muhammad Ahmed was in custody of Afghanistan and he does not know whereabouts of the other children.

SOURCE : App.com.pk

SOURCE : Pkpolitics.com

MIRROR

SOURCE : Awaz.tv

Dr. Afia’s Family in Today’s episode of Front Line with Kamran Shahid

2nd March 2010 marks Aafia’s 7th birthday and approximately 2,540 days in captivity. Many supporters decided to mark the occasion by celebrating the day.  True, it is odd that we will celebrate without Aafia being amongst us. In fact, Aafia was not much for celebrating birthdays. But we will celebrate to remind us that Aafia is not forgotten and remains very much among us, in spirit, even if she is physically locked up in a coffin sized US prison cell.

This day marks the first birthday when the US claims to have taken the rest of Aafia’s life (even though 7 years have already been taken away from her and her children). But we will use this to mark the first birthday of Aafia, the daughter of the Pakistani Nation. We have come to realize that Aafia is no longer just our sister and daughter or just another political prisoner from the “War of Terror”; she is the living symbol of all that has become of her nation and its honor. So, on March 2nd, we remember on behalf of the entire nation.

We use this as the beginning of a calendar and a commitment to seek not only Aafia’s restoration to her family, but also the safe return of all missing persons and, most importantly, the restoration of peace and security in the nation that stood up for its daughter when others hid in fear.

While we celebrate, we will ask all supporters to let this truly be a celebration, not a venue for anger or excuse to harm any person or property.  Let it be a message to those who would like to propagate the lies that Aafia is violent or her supporters are radicals, that while we are determined to defend and fight for our honor and expose the lies, we will do so in a dignified and restrained manner.  We will not let the perpetrators of the “War of Terror” be our teachers. We will show, InshaAllah, that Aafia can be brought back and the Pakistani nation can unite and act with resolve – and do so in a manner that shows the best of our Islamic and Pakistani heritage. We want to show that emotions can be channeled into action and slogans into results instead of rants.

This is also the month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the month in which our blessed prophet Muhammad (SAAW) both entered and also departed from this world. And so, it is an opportunity to not only celebrate life but also reflect on what one makes of it. In the end we enter and exit alone. We enter with nothing and leave with nothing except the account of how we lived.  The day to day trials and triumphs, the joys and sorrow, the wealth and poverty, the arrogance of power and the burden of oppression – these are all transient conditions that never stay the same. In the end it is only how a person reacts to these that matters and is remembered.

Our lives are testimony to this. What we learn from this is to maintain perspective.  Not easy nor always successful, but essential to maintaining sanity. When this is attempted, it is surprising how the blessings of God become evident even in the worst of circumstances and humility becomes essential in each success.  This is how we come to find reason to celebrate at a time when the world would have us mourn.

Yes, an American court, out of fear, condemned Aafia, but through that trial it also exposed the total lack of any evidence against Aafia and the naked cover up of all that was done to her. Yet, this very act of condemnation also raised her status in the entire Muslim world from a victim to a heroine. She went from being a name to a symbol, from a mother’s daughter to the daughter of a nation. Yet, we know labels are also transient. We remember when she was a pariah, the most dangerous woman in the world and to some she still is. But, then, as now, to us she remains a simple human being – a sister, a daughter, a mother.

So, whether people celebrate a national symbol, the rise of a heroine, the face of all missing persons or the memory of a terror victim, we hope they will also remember that underneath all that is a tortured human being named Aafia Siddiqui and it is for her living memory that we celebrate – in joy and not in sorrow.

May God Bless You

SOURCE : Freeaafia.org

Bakhabar savera with Dr. aafia’s Family Part 2

Bakhabar savera with Dr. aafia’s Family Part 3

Bakhabar savera with Dr. aafia’s Family Part 4

Bakhabar savera with Dr. aafia’s Family Part 5

ARY News Morning show with Maya Kahan , Dr Aafia Mother and sister

They family apprised the prime minister of the miseries being faced by them in the wake of the US jury verdict in the Dr Aafia case. The prime minister assured them that the government would continue to extend diplomatic, legal and moral support to Dr Aafia.

They thanked the prime minister for taking personal interest in the matter and said that they were confident of the prime minister in extending support to Dr Aafia. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Federal Minister for Overseas Dr Farooq Sattar were also present during the meeting.

SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk

KARACHI—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that every effort would be made for the repatriation of Dr Aafia from the US detention.

The PM said during his meeting with Dr Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia and mother at the Governor House, Karachi on Monday.
Sources said that on the occasion, Dr Fauzia warned that she would stage a sit-in in front of the Parliament House if the government did not pursue Dr Aafia’s case vigorously.

Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad and Federal Minister Dr Farooq Sattar were also present on the occasion.
Talking to media persons after the meeting with PM, Dr Fauzia said that the PM has summoned a meeting to review aspects to secure release of Dr Aafia.

SOURCE : Dailymailnews.com

KARACHI: The government would continue to extend diplomatic, legal and moral support to Dr Aafia Siddiqui, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday while assuring Aafia’s mother Ismat Siddiqui and sister Fauzia Siddiqui during a meeting with them. Aafia’s family had called on him at the Sindh Governor’s House where Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Farooq Sattar were also present.

According to an official handout, the prime minister was apprised about the details of the verdict that was given by the jury against Aafia. Ismat thanked the prime minister for his personal attention in the matter. staff report

SOURCE : Dailytimes.com.pk

Despite all the bravado of Pakistani officials implying that Dr. Siddiqui would be released, this verdict ensures that she will spend a few more decades in U.S. custody.

Sharp told reporters that her client, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was picked up by ISI on March 29, 2003 in Karachi. They arrived in two black cars and placed Siddiqui in one car and the children in another car.

Dr. Siddiqui says that she was immediately hooded and drugged and when she woke up she was tied to a gurney in a place that could not have been Karachi because the air was very dry.

Sharp also discussed the issue of the missing children. She said that the baby was reported killed during the arrest, but Dr. Siddiqui does not know if the girl, Maryam, who would now be 11 years old, is alive or not.

Dr. Siddiqui was shown a picture of her baby laying in a pool of blood.

American reporters continued to find Dr.Siddiqui’s claims incredulous and questioned Sharp on the plausibility. Do you really believe her?, a reporter asked Sharp. “Yes!”, she replied categorically.

Sharp said that a gag order was placed on the family by the Government of Pakistan, who made this a pre-condition for the release of the oldest child Ahmed. This is why no one from the family has been able to talk openly about what may have happened to her and her children for 5 years.

Many reporters have also said that a Pakistani official who frequented the proceedings and told them “off the record” that Dr. Siddiqui was actually part of an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell.

Many legal observers have questioned if there was a conflict of interest in the Government of Pakistan paying for the defense when they themselves are implicated in her kidnapping.

Dr. Siddiqui, according to her attorney, requested all her supporters not to engage in any violence in protest against the verdict.

SOURCE : Ibrahimsajidmalick.com