Govt refuses to become party in Aafia Siddiqui case in US court

Islamabad: The federal government has refused to provide legal assistance and become a party in the Dr Aafia Siddiqui case in the US court.

Justice Sardar Ijaz of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard the petition regarding the health and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, during which the petitioner’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, Additional Attorney General, and other officials appeared in the court.

During the hearing, the Additional Attorney General told the court that the government has decided not to become a party in this case in the US, to which Justice Sardar Ijaz asked the reason. To this, the Additional Attorney General replied that the government has decided this.

Justice Sardar Ijaz stated that when the government or the Attorney General makes a decision, there are reasons for it; no decision is made without reasons. This is a constitutional court; a person can't come to the court and inform about a decision but do not tell the reason.

The court later directed the Additional Attorney General to inform the reasons at the hearing on July 4.