Mian Sahib was in the opposition, so he wrote letters to the Prime Minister. What happened after the government came to power that changed his position?, Justice Sardar Ijaz
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court has sought answers from the Additional Attorney General in the case related to the release and repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is imprisoned in the United States.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the case in the Islamabad High Court, and Dr. Fawzia Siddiqui’s lawyer Imran Shafiq appeared in the court.
The court asked whether the government of Pakistan will submit a response to the US court regarding the release of Aafia Siddiqui.
The court asked whether the government is ready to submit a court statement in support of Aafia Siddiqui’s application for her release so that she can be released on humanitarian grounds.
Dr. Fawzia Siddiqui’s lawyer Imran Shafiq Advocate requested the court to direct the government to agree to the judicial assistance in the United States. In this response, the government did not support or confirm the contents of the application filed by Aafia Siddiqui.
Lawyer Imran Shafiq said that the only demand from the government of Pakistan is to make a brief request, regardless of the contents of Aafia Siddiqui’s request, that Aafia Siddiqui be released on humanitarian grounds.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan said that what harm can this trivial request do to the government of Pakistan? Pakistan’s Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan has given a statement in the same court in a previous hearing.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan said that the Attorney General has already said that the government will file a request for judicial assistance in the United States, so what is the problem now? Inform the government’s position at the next hearing and satisfy the court with evidence that what is the government’s loss in this?
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan said that when Mian Sahib was in the opposition, he wrote letters to the then Prime Minister to take legal steps for Aafia’s release. The court inquired that what is the change in the situation after the government that the ruling party’s position has changed?
The learned judge further said that there are precedents that the Government of Pakistan has filed such affidavits in the past. When affidavits were filed earlier, what is the legal complication now? The Additional Attorney General should satisfy the court by taking instructions. The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday.
