Terence J Sigamony
Islamabad—The Senate Standing Committee on Interior summoned the former Interior Minister and Secretary and AIG Sindh Asad Ashraf Malik in Dr Aafia case, to inform as to why she was handed over to the US authorities, in the next meeting.
Senator Talha Chairman of the Committee said if needed they could also summon former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf. The meeting was attended by Senators Najma Hameed, Syeda Sughra Imam, Abdul Malik, Haji Mohammad Adeel, Almas Parveen and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Law and Justice, Dr. Fauzia Siddique sister of Dr Afia Siddiqui,
The committee urged the government to fight Dr Afia case and make efforts to bring her back home. “We do not want to clash with the US, but America should release Dr Afia unconditionally, which would improve the US image among the people of Pakistan.”
Dr Fauzia told the committee that Dr Afia was missing since 2003 but was tried in US in July 2008. The case against her sister is of attacking the US soldiers in Afghan detention centre and not of having links with the Al-Qaeda or any extremist groups. She said her mother tried to get FIR of Dr Afia registered in 2003 but AIG, Sindh Asad Ashraf informed that FIR of missing persons could not be registered but noted the case in the police station.
The Special Secretary Foreign Office Babar said that $2 million have been allocated for Dr Afia case, and the FO had engaged lawyers with the consent of Dr Afia’s brother and they were in constant touch with her family, but the lawyers role is to assist the state lawyers.
Senator Talha Mehmood after the meeting, while briefing the media, said the lawyers hired by FO are not allowed by the American authorities to plead Dr Afia’s case in the court and even to meet her, while the lawyers appointed by the US government were presenting her case before the court.
He showed media the medical report of Dr Afia, according to that two bullets were fired on her in the US prison, one hit her abdomen and other passed through the heart. He said Dr Afia was missing since 2003 but the case was registered in July and that was also framed in the jail.
The Additional Secretary of Ministry of Law and Justice said that if the government approached the International Court then many complications could take place, therefore Dr Afia case should be resolved through diplomatic channel as Afghanistan and US are the two states that don’t recognize the International Court.
