The Additional Attorney General (AAG) told the Islamabad High Court on Monday that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif signed the summary of financial support for the delegation going to America for the release of neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. .
AAG barrister Munoor Iqbal Dogal informed the court during the hearing of the application regarding efforts to bring him back to Pakistan. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of Islamabad High Court heard the request of neuroscientist sister Fauzia Siddiqui.
AAG informed the court that Senator Irfan Siddiqui will not accompany the delegation due to personal issues, Senator Bushra Bibi will take his place.
It is worth mentioning here that the neuroscientist was sentenced to 86 years in prison in Afghanistan in 2010 for attempted murder and assault on US officials. She is serving a prison sentence at Carsville, a maximum-security prison in Fort Worth, Texas.
In October, the federal government told the IHC that a delegation was being sent to the US to seek Dr. Aafia’s release. The delegation will include former and present parliamentarians, retired or serving military officers, doctors and Aafia’s sister Fauzia Siddiqui.
At the start of today’s hearing, a representative of the Foreign Office told the court that visa applications for Pakistani officials had been submitted to the relevant US authorities and expressed hope that their applications would be approved soon.
He informed the IHC that the FO is providing all possible assistance to Dr Fauzia. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 13.
Last week, the IHC was told that a planned visit by a Pakistani delegation to the US to seek Dr Aafia’s release was jeopardized by a lack of response from the White House, the State Department and the Department of Justice.
According to the statement issued by the Aafia Movement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent several requests to schedule meetings with American officials, but they were not answered.