Nawaz govt urged to show seriousness on Aafia issue : Dr Fowzia Siddiqui
Dr Aafia could return within two days if the PML-N government expresses political will: Dr Fowzia
Hyderabad, June 14: Dr Aafia Siddiqui could return home within two days if the government of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif expresses political will as it enjoys the two-third majority, said Dr Fowzia Siddiqui of Aafia Movement Pakistan, addressing a big protest demo here Friday.
She said Mian Nawaz Sharif in past had always supported the cause of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and even written a letter to the then prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, demanding release of the Pakistani mother. She said now when Mian Nawaz Sharif himself has become the prime minister of Pakistan and his party enjoys heavy mandate there is no reason that his government avoids the issue of imprisonment of Pakistani woman scientist Dr Aafia.
She said Aafia is innocent as she had not committed any crime. She is the victim of the defective justice system of America and all just and peace loving people of the world are concerned over the discrimination meted out to her. She said the protest demos for Aafia are not only staged in Pakistan but also in Europe and America. She said when the killer of Pakistani citizens, CIA contractor Raymond Davis can be released and repatriated why not the innocent Aafia?
She reminded that Mian Nawaz Sharif has promised that he would bring Aafia back home when he came into power, and now is the right time that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif walks his talk. She said whole Pakistani nation wants to see Aafia back home and the government should respect their sentiments. She said the past regime did not take any effort for the release of Aafia and the Pakistani nation rejected them. She said the PML-N government must learn a lesson from this. She said if the present government took serious and honest efforts of Aafia release, it would help them winning the hearts and minds of Pakistanis.
Dr Fowzia said it is also in the interest of United States of America to release innocent Aafia, as it would improve their image regarding respecting the rights of mothers. She said American society highly values family rights, while Pakistani mother Aafia, a victim of human trafficking is forcedly separated from her children. Even her youngest trafficked son is still missing. She said the governments of Pakistan and the USA should sympathetically review the issue of Dr Aafia from human rights perspective and ensure her prompt release and repatriation. She hoped that people-to-people relations of Pakistan and the US would greatly improve after the release and repatriation of Aafia.
She said PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz has to come forward for the cause of Aafia release, as being a woman she understands Aafia’s ordeal better than her father or uncle. She should raise a strong voice for Aaifa inside the circles of their ruling party and provide the required political leverage for the government to take serious steps on this issue. Maryam Nawaz, being a leading woman politician of Pakistan, can play a vital role for securing early release of Dr Siddiqui.
Muhammad Rafiq Khaskheli, president of Pasban Sindh chapter said Dr Aafia Siddiqui is the daughter of Sindh and the people of Sindh highly value the dignity and respect of their daughters. He said more protests would be held in other cities and towns of Sindh to press the issue of sister Aafia.
Muhammad Shafiq, Shareef Khaskhekli, Khalil Palari, Mithal Khaskheli and others were present. A large number of citizens, political workers, civil society activists, students, youth and lawyers took part in the demo and raised slogans, demanding immediate release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
