ISLAMABAD – Islamabad High Court, in the Aafia Siddiqui case, remarked that there is not even a single government official who could say that they stand with Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer Clive Smith.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court presided over the hearing on the petition for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release and return to Pakistan.
In the hearing, the petitioner Fauzia Siddiqui’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, the court’s advisor Zainab Janjua, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Cyrus Sajjad Qazi, and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal appeared before the court.
During the proceedings, Dr. Aafia’s American lawyer, Clive Smith, appeared before the court via video link.
The court noted that Clive Smith had made efforts regarding Aafia Siddiqui’s case and even traveled to Afghanistan.
However, no government official is willing to say they stand with Smith. “I don’t understand what the government is afraid of,” the court remarked.
At this point, the Additional Attorney General argued that the government has been consistently supporting Fauzia Siddiqui and that policy-level decisions take time.
The court asked the Additional Attorney General whether they are writing a petition for clemency to the White House or sought a clear answer.
The court directed Clive Smith to share a draft of the clemency appeal for Aafia Siddiqui with the Pakistani government within a week.
Later, the Additional Attorney General requested the court to grant a five-week extension, which the court rejected, and adjourned the hearing until September 13.
