Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
The meeting of Dr Aafia Siddiqui with her sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui in Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas two days ago has again highlighted the demand of releasing Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is serving 86 years of imprisonment in US prison (on fake and fabricated charges) following her conviction by a federal court in New York in 2010 on attempted murder and other charges.
Dr Fauzia, Senator Mushtaq and Dr Aafia’s American lawyer, Clive Smith, who are seeking her release are expected to meet with Dr Aafia again to discuss further possible steps for Dr Aafia’s release.
Dr Aafia is currently undergoing treatment in a federal medical prison in the state of Texas, where women prisoners are provided with special medical and mental health facilities.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, a senior leader of Pakistan’s largest socio-religious political organisation Jamaat-e-Islami has been forefront in highlighting the case of Dr Aafia siddque in Pakistan, finally were successful along with American lawyer Clive smith, for arranging a meeting between Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her family. Her sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui along with senator Mustaq travelled to the US to meet Dr Aafia after 20 years.
The plight of seeking release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui has been over 15 years with Jamaat-e-Islami being a forefront, the other political parties of Pakistan who had been in power from last 15 years have only made fake promises.
The apathy of Pakistani political parties is that no mainstream political parties have even demanded a release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US who is Pakistani national and has prestigious degrees and Doctorate from well-known universities of the world.
It is believed that Dr Aafia Siddiqui was first is Bagram Airbase prison for 5 years and then shifted to the US in 2008. The shifting of Dr Aafia to US was strongly condemned in Pakistan with strong protest and rallies against US, the then PM of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani promised to seek release of her but there was no progress.
According to her sister, the health of Dr Aafia is not in a good condition, she was severely tortured in Bagram Airbase prison and in the US. Dr Aafia has lost her front teeth in an assassination attempt inside the jail and has a scar on her head because of which she face difficulties in hearing.
Senator Mushatq Ahmad Khan showed resolve that they will not leave any stone unturned to get Dr. Aafia Siddiqui out of jail and they have been meeting uncountable personalities to voice concern about the miseries being faced by Dr. Aafia.
This is the time that the nation should unite and stand up and thrive for Dr Aafia, and pressure the government to take practical steps and seek release of Dr Aafia otherwise the whole nation will be responsible if any misfortune happens. The issue should also be raised at a diplomatic level with the American government.