On the eve of US President Joe Biden’s final day in office, a large number of citizens gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on the call of Friends of Aafia, urging the outgoing president to approve the mercy petition for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
The demonstrators highlighted that over 1.64 million individuals have already signed the petition, calling on Biden to release Dr. Aafia on humanitarian grounds. During the peaceful demonstration, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor stated that people in Pakistan and across the globe have consistently demanded her release.
“The Pakistani government’s role in this case has been disappointing for the entire nation,” he remarked, emphasizing the ongoing international outcry over Dr. Aafia’s imprisonment for the past two decades. Sardar Zulfiqar, addressing the crowd, stressed that Dr. Aafia’s release would enhance the United States’ image in the Muslim world, particularly in Pakistan. Similarly, S.K. Marwat of Friends of Aafia described Dr. Aafia as an innocent woman enduring immense suffering.
“Her release would be a gesture of goodwill from the US to Muslims worldwide,” he added. Engineer Junaid Ahmed reaffirmed the commitment to the peaceful struggle for Dr. Aafia’s freedom, saying, “For 20 years, we have been campaigning for her release, and we will continue until she is free.” Other participants included Saad Humayon, Akram Agariya, Almas Bibi, Imdad Siddiqui, and several others, who joined voices to demand justice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and appeal to the US for compassion and humanity.
