- Shah Mehmood Qureshi meets Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister Dr Fouzia Siddiqui at FO
- Info minister says justice for Afia has become every citizen’s voice
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday met with Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister Dr Fouzia Siddiqui at the Foreign Office in the federal capital.
A neuroscientist and a mother of three, Dr Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving her jail sentence in the US over terrorism charges.
Qureshi informed Fouzia about efforts being made to bring Aafia back to the country.
“To ensure Dr Aafia’s well-being we have called for consular visits, we have also spoken to the Pakistan consulate general regarding protecting Dr Aafia’s legal and human rights,” Qureshi said.
The foreign minister had previously pledged to make all diplomatic efforts to bring Dr Aafia Siddiqui back.
Qureshi had denied that the US had previously made an offer to Pakistan to free Aafia in return for releasing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative Raymond Davis and said that Fouzia and her family members would be facilitated if Aafia completes her jail term in Pakistan.
The Pakistani government had also raised the issue of “respecting the human and legal rights” of Dr Aafia Siddiqui with US Ambassador Alice Wells, who visited Islamabad on November 7.
Dr Aafia has been in prison since 2010 on the charges of attempted murder and assault on US military personnel during an interview with the US authorities in Ghazni, charges which Aafia Siddiqui denies. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison at the Federal Medical Centre, Carswell, Fort Worth in Texas.
JUSTICE FOR AFIA ‘VOICE’ OF EVRY PAKISTANI: FAWAD
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad said that provision of justice to Dr Afia Sidduqui is the voice of every Pakistani.
The minister said this while talking to Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Afia Siddqui, who called on him.
He said Imran Khan is the only leader who constantly raised his voice in favour of Dr Afia Saddiqui.
Access to justice and provision of justice to all Pakistani prisoners in foreign jails is important, the minister said, adding the protection of rights of every citizen is the responsibility of the government.
Dr Fauzia Siddiqui thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government for the efforts to highlight and resolve the issue of Aafia Siddiqui.
