A Grand National Jirga here in front of the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Sunday unanimously demanded from the State of Pakistan to make urgent interventions for the release and repatriation of the daughter of nation, Dr Aafia Siddiqui. A large number of political, social and civil society leaders attended the moot arranged by the Aafia Movement.
Addressing the Jirga, ex-chief justice of Pakistan justice (r) Wajihuddin Siddiqui said that politicians, when they were not in government, made tall claims but they forget it after assuming the power. He said Aafia was not alone as she had the support of the whole nation. He said this Jirga had adopted a landmark Karachi declaration and the government should act upon its important recommendations. He reminded that when the women and children of the Arab traders were imprisoned by the sea pirates near the coast of Sindh, the then ruler Hajjaj bin Yusuf had sent an army led by Muhammad bin Qasim to secure their release. He regretted that 12 years had passed and they had done nothing for the daughter of the nation. He said when the CIA agent Raymond Davis was arrested for killing Pakistan citizens, they (federal government) released him in a shameful manner instead of swapping him for Aafia’s release.
Justice Wajih said in the war on terror, they wasted one billion dollars and 50,000 precious lives. He said today the soldiers of NATO were leaving Afghanistan and they were providing them security cover. He said this was height of the government apathy regarding forgetting its national interests. He said for the release of Dr Aafia, they had to tell the real facts to the American people and their intelligence agencies to create a public support for the release of Aafia. He said the allegation levelled against Dr Aafia seems farce as no American soldier was even hurt in the so-called attack. He said Aafia was kidnapped from Pakistan and the attacked occurred in Afghanistan that was under the control of NATO; however, Aafia was convicted under the US laws. He said it was sad that no Pakistani was allowed to visit Aafia and it was the worst violation of human rights. He said due to this they could not know if she was dead or alive.
Aafia Movement leader Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said this National Jirga had already given a verdict in the shape of the Karachi declaration. She said she was proud that the whole nation supported the cause of Aafia. She said the nation would no more tolerate this disgrace that the daughter of the nation was still imprisoned abroad. She said she was proud that the nation made this National Jirga a big success. She regretted that the rulers showed their traditional apathy and lack of courage and did not discharge their responsibilities. They wasted several opportunities for the release of Aafia. They preferred the US dollars to the nation’s pride and lowered the head of nation in shame and disgraced the national flag. She said now time had come that demands for the release of Aafia should come from every home.
MQM leader MNA Muzzamil Qureshi said the government should fulfil the promise of getting Aafia released and it should take immediate efforts. He said the efforts should be taken on diplomatic and humanitarian grounds. He said as the nation had joined at one platform against terrorism, it should also be united for the release of Aafia Siddiqui.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) general secretary Iqbal Zaffar Jhagra said Aafia is the daughter of the nation and her release is our collective responsibility. He said they would take utmost efforts for securing her early release and repatriation. Noted scholar Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi said the release of Aafia was necessary from the Islamic point of view. He said Aafia had reminded the great sacrifices of the Muslim women of early Islamic history. He said Aafia was braving a huge punishment for the weakness of Pakistani nation.
Pakistan Bar Council Member Yaseen Azad Advocate said when a foreigner was convicted in Pakistan, he was released and sent home in special planers, but the government was not taking any effort for the release of the innocent Aafia. However, he said, there was for early release of Aafia. Jammat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Naib Amir and president Milli Yakijahiti Council Sindh Asadullah Bhutto said all political parties should join hands for the release of Aafia. He said it was the responsibility of the government to take all-out steps in this regard. PML-N central vice president Saleem Zia, Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf women wing leader Naiza Rabbani, Salima Waheed Murad, Human Rights of Pakistan leader Asad Iqbal Butt, trade leader Atiq Mir and Pasban president Altaf Shakoor also spoke.