Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar announced that efforts to secure Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release have not yet been successful. He explained that the government has been trying to persuade American leadership for her pardon without success.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached out to the US President, requesting humanitarian relief for Dr. Aafia. A three-member committee has been established to engage with American lawmakers to lobby for her pardon, release, and return to Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan Sending Delegation to US for Aafia Siddiqui Case Discussions
Dar made these comments during the international conference “China 75: A Journey of Development, Transformation, and Global Leadership” on Tuesday, referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a “magnificent gift” from China. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to furthering the initiative to improve cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, renewable energy, and other sectors.
He noted that CPEC has strengthened Pakistan’s energy infrastructure, helping the country address load-shedding issues. Dar also revealed that the government is working to implement China’s offer to send 1,000 Pakistani students to China for training in agricultural technology.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s position on international matters, Dar expressed gratitude for China’s assistance in resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues and reiterated Pakistan’s support for the One China policy. He expressed hope that, through the efforts of Chinese leadership and its people, China would soon emerge as the world’s largest economy.
On the ongoing violence in Gaza, Dar emphasized that Pakistan stands with the Palestinian people, calling for an end to the massacre and adherence to United Nations resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings. He highlighted that 48,000 innocent Palestinians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives, with an additional 80,000 injured.
Dar also expressed concern about attacks on Lebanon and Iran, mentioning that Pakistan has sent ten major aid shipments to Gaza and is taking steps to facilitate the education of Palestinian students in Pakistani public and private medical colleges.
In a letter to the US President, PM Shehbaz Sharif noted that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been sentenced to 86 years in prison by a US District Court. He urged President Biden to use his constitutional authority to grant her a pardon and order her release on humanitarian grounds.
Sharif highlighted that Dr. Aafia’s family, along with millions of Pakistanis, are awaiting this act of kindness. Incarcerated at FMC Carswell since September 2010, she has spent 16 years in a US jail.
The Prime Minister mentioned that during consular meetings, serious concerns about Dr. Aafia’s medical treatment had been raised. There are growing worries about her deteriorating mental and physical health, with concerns that she may be at risk of self-harm. He urged that her case be viewed with compassion.
The Prime Minister wrote that it is his “solemn duty” to ensure the well-being of his citizens and appealed to Biden to fulfill a similar role as head of state. “I understand how passionately you have fought for the rights of your citizens, particularly those held captive abroad,” he stated.
He urged Biden to release Dr. Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds, noting, “I have always known you to be a committed friend of Pakistan, demonstrating warmth and genuine friendship for our people.” The Prime Minister requested Biden to exercise his constitutional authority to accept Dr. Siddiqui’s clemency petition and order her release solely on humanitarian grounds.
