American lawyer Clive Smith has provided details to the court on how Dr. Aafia Siddiqui could be brought back to Pakistan.
The Islamabad High Court has directed the federal government to submit a response by February 21 regarding the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release and return to her homeland.
The hearing was conducted by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court, focusing on a miscellaneous petition concerning Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release from US custody. Clive Smith, Dr. Aafia’s American lawyer, submitted a new declaration to the court. He suggested that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui could be brought back to Pakistan in exchange for Dr. Shakil Afridi, who is currently in US custody.
Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal, lawyer Imran Shafiq, and judicial assistant Zainab Janjua appeared in court.
The court inquired about the government’s stance on the possibility of returning Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by handing over Shakil Afridi to the United States. The Prime Minister of Pakistan had previously written a letter to former US President Joe Biden, to which no response was received. The court also questioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the steps taken in response to the letter. The declaration raised several questions, and the court requested detailed answers for each one.
The Islamabad High Court has postponed the hearing, requesting the government’s response to Clive Smith’s declaration by February 21.
