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Fauzia holds Haqqani responsible for Aafia conviction
LAHORE: Dr. Fauzia Siddiqi has held Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, responsible for spoiling the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi in the US court.
Addressing a press conference along with Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan in Lahore today (Monday), Dr. Siddiqi said Aafia did not want to fight her case in American court, but the Pakistani envoy took it to the court.
“Now it is the responsibility of Hussain Haqqani to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels,” she said.
“We would not have seen this day, had the government taken up the matter of Dr. Aafia through diplomatic channels,” added Siddiqi.
Protest in Islamabad for Dr. Aafia & Missing persons
Protest in Islamabad for Dr. Aafia & Missing Persons
A peaceful protest held @ Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan demanding return of Dr. Aafia to Pakistan and for the safe return of all the missing people who are in american custody or custody of other agencies. For returning them and running a free and fair trial against them if nessessry.
Peaceful march held for Aafia’s early release
ISLAMABAD – A peaceful walk held on Thursday organised by Pakistan Professional Forum to protest the conviction of Dr Aafia Siddiqui by the US court.
The peaceful walk in which representatives of civil society, a large number of students, families of missing persons and activists of Human Rights of Pakistan participated began from Kalsum Plaza Jinnah Avenue Blue Area and culminated at China Chowk.
The participants were holding placards in their hands inscribed with slogans like ‘Free Aafia’ ‘No to US friendship’ Govt recover 10,000 missing persons. They also chanted slogans. Chairperson of Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, Amina Masood Janjua, said, “We are civilised nation, as our peaceful walk witnessed this action but,” no one, she said, “should consider it our weakness.”
Govt targeted for mishandling Aafia case
ISLAMABAD – Terming the repatriation of Dr Aafia a common cause, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Thursday assured the National Assembly that the government would fully defend her till the final hearing.
Winding up the discussion on Dr. Aafia’s conviction, he said that the evidence against her was very weak as both the witnesses gave contradicting statements. However, the lawyers had advised her not to give statement.
He welcomed the suggestion of Faisal Saleh Hayat for constituting a parliamentary delegation to US to pursue Obama and Hillary for the release of Dr Aafia.
Earlier, taking part in the discussion, Faisal said that he was the only one who asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for Aafia’s release if US wanted to improve its image in Pakistan.
Government vows good defence for Aafia Siddiqui
ISLAMABAD: The government assured the National Assembly on Thursday it would put up a “good defence” for Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui even at the next stage of her trial by a US court where a jury last week found her guilty of attempting to murder American soldiers in Afghanistan.
“Justice is not being done (to her),” Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Ahmed Khan said at the end of a one-sided debate in apparently Islamabad’s strongest comment to date in what he called “a common cause” against the Feb 3 conviction in New York.
He complained of that a Pakistani woman had been “maltreated” and said: “We all agree that somehow she should be brought back (to Pakistan).”
British Parliamentarians for public inquiry into Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s conviction
Describing the conviction of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr.Aafia Siddiqui as “miscarriage of justice”, British Parliamentarians have called for withdrawal of case against her and repatriation to Pakistan. At a function organised at the House of Lords on Tuesday evening to raise support for the incarcerated Dr. Siddiqui, Lord Nazir Ahmed together with other speakers said her trial in New York was full of flaws and not based on facts.
They sought the intervention of the US leadership and demanded a fair trial based on real facts and not assumptions. Lord Ahmed said he would be writing a letter to the US President Barack Obama carrying signatures of other British MPs calling for Dr.Siddiqui’s repatriation to Pakistan and withdrawal of case.
The Labour Peer further said he would also raise this question in the Parliament to ascertain how the British Government could help in this regard.
APL to support Lord Ahmed for Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s fair trial
LONDON : The UK-based Association of Pakistani origin Lawyers (APL) has announced its complete support to the campaign initiated by British parliamentarian Lord Nazir Ahmed to seek a fair trial of Dr.Aafia Siddiqui. APL Chair Barrister Amjad Malik, said Tuesday that western media has blacked out Dr.Siddiqui’s conviction and reactions including reservations on trial which shows that it is always ready to rub under the carpet some of the worst human rights abuses when it comes to their national interest.
He confirmed that APL appreciates Lord Ahmed’s stance on Dr. Siddiqui’s case and that the Association will support any drive Lord Ahmed initiates to campaign, and seek fair trial for Dr. Siddiqui.
He said it is strange that neuroscientist was first labelled as No.7 on the wanted list of Al-Qaeda and later was charged and tried for minor criminal offences and she never had the opportunity to wipe the stigma attached to her name being associated with the outfit which in itself is a criminal offence.
LHC orders steps for Aafia’s release
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court disposed of a petition on Monday directing the federal government to take effective measures for the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US detention.
Dr Aafia has been convicted by a US court with attempted killing of US agents while in detention in Bagram, Afghanistan.
Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry directed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to evolve a strategy in consultation with the Law Ministry to take measures, if viable, for the release of Dr Aafia. The petition was filed by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffrey.
The judge has already disposed of a petition filed by Mr Jaffrey seeking the doctor’s release and repatriation through the International Court of Justice. The judge ordered the Foreign Ministry to collect evidences from Barrister Jaffrey about Dr Aafia’s alleged arrest in Karachi in 2002 and refer it to her lawyers in the US where she was facing a trial at that time.
‘Govt, opposition responsible for Aafia’s plight’
ISLAMABAD – Gen (R) Hamid Gul has said that owing to secret agreements between the political parties and the US, both the opposition and the ruling PPP did not raise their voice in Dr Aafia Sidduqui’s case.
He stated this while addressing a protest gathering here on Monday, which was organised by the students of various universities including International Islamic University, Iqra University, Lahore University, National University of Modern Languages and other local universities against the illegal detention of Dr Aafia.
Gul was of the view that both the incumbent government and the political parties belonging to Opposition were responsible for abduction of Pakistani nationals by the US. “Whenever a political party came to power, they made such agreements and assured their American bosses that they would abide by all such security agreements.”
PTI protest for Aafia’s release continues
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has urged the incumbent government to make all out efforts for early release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US incarceration urging that her trial should be carried out in the local courts if necessary.
Protesters belonging to PTI Women Wing demanded this during a protest demonstration staged in front of National Press Club on Saturday.
They expressed their deep concerns over the way the US jury convicted Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
The protesters were chanting slogans to express their solidarity with Dr Aafia as “We reject the conviction of Aafia; Release the daughter of the nation Aafia from the clutches of cruel Americans”.
