US Ambassador Summoned by Pakistani Senate
* Senate committee chairman says whole nation wants early release of scientist
By Tahir Niaz
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday asked the Foreign Office (FO) to summon US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson to the FO, for discussing the possible release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is currently in US custody.
The Committee Chairman Senator Talha Mahmood asked the FO to tell Patterson that the Pakistani nation was concerned about Dr Aafia and wanted her early release. Earlier, FO officials told the committee that Dr Aafia could face punishment from a 30-year jail term to life imprisonment. The Committee chairman said that there were at least nine cases in US history where the US president had pardoned court punishment. He asked the FO to collect information on the developments made by the Pakistani embassy in the US in Dr Aafia’s case so far, before the committee itself would summon Patterson to the committee meeting.
Mahmood asked the FO to submit a comprehensive report on Dr Aafia’s case within 15 days.
The committee was of the view that it was the prime responsibility of the government to protect its citizens residing abroad and Dr Aafia Siddiqui had committed no crime and the case against her was baseless which must be withdrawn.
The FO assured members of the committee that all out efforts would be made for the safe repatriation of Dr Aafia.
