ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Friday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that there was no response so far to the letter written by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to United States of America (USA) President Joe Biden regarding incarcerated Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and her return to Pakistan.
The representatives of MOFA appeared before the court of IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and submitted the information. An additional attorney general for Pakistan and lawyer of the petitioner also appeared before the court.
The judge was hearing the case related to release and return of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan.
During the proceedings, the court observed that the US is a sovereign country, and it can reject Dr. Fauzia’s visa. The US can also reject the Prime Minister’s visa but these matters must be addressed at the diplomatic level.
On it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lawyer informed the court that the Pakistani mission in the US had made arrangements for a delegation to meet Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in the jail.
At this, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan asked the law officer present in the court, saying that why the delegation arrived late according to the documents, and where was your ambassador? Such matters are always handled by the ambassador.
During the hearing, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s sister stated that when the chief executive of one country writes a letter to the executive of another country, a response is mandatory. In reply, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative stated that no response has been received to the letter written by Pakistan’s Prime Minister to US President Joe Biden.
Justice Ejaz Ishaq remarked that “the country’s executive wrote a letter, and there was no response—what should we understand from this? The Pakistani ambassador in the US should have arranged a meeting between the delegation and the Biden administration,”.
The court has now sought details of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s visits from the time of Dr. Aafia’s sentence remission request until now. The Additional Attorney General requested the court to withdraw the orders.
The court also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide a report on the declaration of Dr. Aafia’s US lawyer and instructed the Ministry to handle the matter at the diplomatic level.
Later, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the case until January 13.
