No one in state stands with Aafia's lawyer: IHC

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday said in the Aafia Siddiqui case that no one among the government officials says that they stand with Aafia Siddiqui's lawyer Smith.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of IHC heard the request for the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, in which the petitioner Fawzia Siddiqui's lawyer Imran Shafiq, judicial assistant Zainab Janjua, Foreign Secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal appeared before the court.

During the hearing, Dr. Aafia's American lawyer Clive Smith appeared before the court through video link.

The court said that Clive Smith made effort regarding Aafia Siddiqui's case and even went to Afghanistan. None of the government officials say that they stand with Smith, ‘I don't understand what the government is afraid of’.

On this occasion, the Additional Attorney General argued that the government is supporting Fawzia Siddiqui regularly, and it takes some time when a policy-level decision to be taken.

The court asked the Additional Attorney General whether he was writing a mercy petition to the White House or not.

The court directed Clive Smith to share the draft of Siddiqui's mercy plea with the Pakistani government within a week.

Later, the Additional Attorney General requested the court to grant five weeks' respite, which the court rejected and adjourned the hearing till September 13.