'Global movement' to surface to campaign for Aafia Siddiqui's release
Govt in talks with US officials: Governor Punjab, Govt isn't doing enough: Fouzia Siddiqui insists.
LAHORE: (NNI) – Addressing a press conference Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui has announced to launch a mass movement to campaign for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in March. Dr Fouzia says the government is shallow-comforting them on the matter and that they are not satisfied of the development. Addressing a different gathering at Punjab University, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar said that the government is in talks with the US authorities over the matter and that steps are being taken for the release.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving a sentence of 86 years in prison in the US after being convicted of attempted murder and assault in 2010.
Lashing out at the government, Dr Fouzia Siddiqui said the government officials are ‘biggest fools’ if they think their hands are tied. No steps are being taken by the government and our embassy in the US, she claimed. “We’re trying to reach them on daily basis but we don’t receive any response,” she added.
Dr Fouzia further said that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are only issuing political statements and not doing anything practically for the cause. “This is why we’re initiating this movement and it will surface in March,” she added.
Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar was addressing a 141st birthday celebration of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan at Punjab University and during this address, he said that Maulana Zafar, who is revered as the father of journalism in the subcontinent, has bestowed a graceful status to the journalism of truth and his efforts cannot be forgotten. Talking about the matter of Aafia Siddiqui, the governor said that super power’s fear of a weak woman like Aafia is beyond comprehension. He went on to say that every human being should be granted basic human rights; and US, despite claiming to be a human rights champion defies them.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui was named as an aid to Al-Qaeeda which placed her in the list of ‘wanted for questioning’ by American intelligence agency Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Consequently Dr Aafia was allegedly arrested in Afghanistan and notes of bomb-making and dangerous substance were allegedly found in her custody. She was subsequently indicted in New York federal district court but on different charges i.e. attempted murder and assault, both of which were denied by her.
Following a highly controversial trial, Siddiqui was pronounced ‘guilty’ and sentenced to 86 years in prison, a verdict that Pakistan has refused to recognize as the Pakistani government has been maintaining innocence of the Pakistani citizen.
The trial grabbed attention from Muslims worldwide who saw it as an attack on Islam and came out to protest and show support. Massive campaigning and lobbying was done in Pakistan as well. Pakistani government has already spent a substantial amount in her defense in the US, which, Dr Fouzia says is not enough.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani citizen who studied in the US and obtained a doctorate as well as a degree in neuroscience, also from the US.