The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Friday observed ‘Dr Aafia Siddiqui Day’ on Friday. On an appeal from the party’s chief, Munawar Hasan, rallis were held in the federal and the provincial capitals besides other major cities denouncing the US court’s verdict that jailed Aafia for 86 years on terrorism charges and demanded that she be released immediately.
A large number of women and children held a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club to draw the world’s attention to the injustice done to a Pakistani citizen. JI Deputy Secretary General Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha said Dr Aafia was a “daughter of Islam” and added that the rulers were devoid of any sense of shame and honour and had taken no solid step to get her released. However, he said, the Pakistani nation was awake and would continue its struggle for Dr Aafia’s release.
In Islamabad, a seminar was held at Al-Flah Hall. Addressing the seminar, JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said the JI would continue its struggle until Dr Aafia was released. He said the US, India and Israel were trying to destabilise Pakistan. A rally, led by JI Punjab chief Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, was staged from Ghanta Ghar to Husain Agahi in Multan.
In Karachi, a big rally was taken out from Empress Road to Regal Chowk. The JI chief, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, and JI Karachi chief, Muhammad Husain Mehnati, led the rally.