An Open Letter to President Zardari, Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry.
An An Open Letter to President Zardari, Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry.
February 8, 2012
Mr.Asif Ali Zardari,
President,
Islamic republic of Pakistan,
Re: Aafia’s Upcoming Appeal Process, the Role of Your Government, and Broken promises.
Dear Sir,
This Friday, February 10, 2012, the world will be watching as court-appointed attorneys (who are paid by the US government, and Aafia has repeatedly attempted to fire) – will argue before a US Court of Appeals and purport to represent my sister’s interests against her will. This mockery of justice is simply yet another example of how Aafia’s conviction of a crime she did not commit is virtually guaranteed in the US “justice” system. Meanwhile, US agents who have perpetrated crimes against her – including kidnapping, torture, assault, and false imprisonment, have not been called to account.
It has now been three and a half years since agents of the US government shot my sister and the beginning of the 10th year since she was abducted – a Pakistani citizen – abducted from Pakistan through a rendition operation locked up in Afghanistan, and forcibly removed from Afghanistan after an implausible shoot out, and illegally transferred her to the United States.
So-called “high-profile” American criminal defense attorneys convinced the government of Pakistan to pay them millions of dollars – and then refused to resign when Aafia did not accept them. Neither did the Pakistani Government intervene. There can no longer be any doubt that Aafia will never receive justice in the US legal system.
I want to remind you today of the promises that you made, your Prime Minister made, Interior Ministry made and Foreign Ministry made. The promises that said Aafia will be back. Raymond Davis and several other mercenaries have walked free from our land, but innocent citizens are languishing due to the negligence and criminal silence of your administration.
Now, more than ever, the fate of this Daughter of the Nation lies in the hands of the Pakistani government to bring her home. We can only but request and protest, How you respond to our plea's will be your legacy and will define our nation, let it be of Pride not Shame.
Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui
M.B.B.S (Dow), MD(USA), ABPN(USA), FCNP, FEEG(Harvard. USA)
Diplomat American Board of Psychiatry&Neurology
Ex. Director Epilepsy Program, John Hopkins Univ. (USA)
Consultant Neurologist, Neurophysiologist and Epileptologist.