The Islamabad High Court (IHC) raised concerns on Friday regarding the delegation heading to the United States for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, questioning whether the initiative was a private one and whether the government would bear the expenses associated with the trip. Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan presided over the hearing related to Dr. Siddiqui’s release and was informed that no government officials were part of the delegation.
The court was told that Anusha Rehman had declined to participate, and it was later revealed that Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the delegation, would also not be going. Additionally, it was highlighted that visas for the delegation members had not yet been issued, and the importance of obtaining official visas was emphasized.
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In response, the IHC directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a summary to the prime minister to decide who would cover the delegation’s expenses. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s US-based lawyer, Clive Smith, joined the hearing via video link and expressed optimism, stating that the visit now had a higher chance of success.
However, the video conference was briefly disrupted due to internet issues. The case continues to attract significant attention, as Dr. Siddiqui, who is serving a prison sentence in the US, has long been a point of diplomatic and legal contention between Pakistan and the United States.
