IHC directs Foreign Office to provide assistance at the legal front to Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui for meeting with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
Court adjourns Dr. Aafia Siddiqui case till 17th March
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
The hearing of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was once again adjourned till 17th March as the Foreign Office presented no solid progress in the matter. The court has directed the Foreign Office to provide assistance at the legal front to Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui for meeting with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui imprisoned in United States. The court has directed the foreign office officials to hold meeting with Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui next week.
IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the case filed for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from America. The additional attorney general informed the court that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani citizen and government would provide every possible assistance for her release.
During the last hearing the court had directed the foreign minister and the foreign secretary would file a report with their signatures in the court. Previously the court had also directed them to contact to the US ambassador in Pakistan on the issue of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui with the parameters of diplomatic.
On Friday, when the hearing of the case was started by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, a brief report was filed without the signature of Foreign Minister Bilwal Bhutto Zardari or the Foreign Secretary Dr. Asad Majeed Khan.
The honourable court expressed displeasure and sought reasons for it. The report was signed by acting foreign secretary. Perhaps because the foreign minister and foreign secretary had gone on a foreign tour. The court now adjourned till 17th March.
However the lawyer of the petitioner outside the court talking to media said is strange that the foreign minister and secretary went abroad when they had to sign the report. The court also ordered that every possible from ICRC should be ensured for Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, the petitioner.
However, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui talking to media regretted that one more day passed and one more hearing gone without any outcome. She said twenty years have passed but the government had left one daughter of the nation ignored shamelessly. She asked why the government is not confessing that we are slaves and even worse than slaves. She asked why the government in not telling what happened when then they met the US envoy. The emotional Dr. Fowzia asked if this is the honour and status of being a Pakistan citizen. PDP Chairman Altaf Shakoor was also present.