Pakistan in contact with US government on Dr Aafia issue: FO

By
GEO NEWS
|
Dr Aafia Siddiqui - File photo 

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan was in contact with the US government over the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

During the weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal told reporters that officials from Pakistan’s Consulate in Houston had met Dr Aafia 12 time during the last three years. 

“Government of Pakistan has been regularly seized of the case and has consistently raised the matter forcefully with the US authorities,” Dr Faisal said. 

The spokesman also informed reporters about Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s meeting with Dr Fouzia the sister of Dr Aafia.

“Foreign Minister has instructed the Consul General in Houston to remain in touch with the prison facilities to ensure that rights of Dr Aafia are fully respected.” 

Meanwhile, in the Senate, a resolution calling for the release of Dr Aafia was passed. The resolution was tabled by JUI-F Senator Talha Mehmood and stated that the government should take measures for the return of Dr Aafia and contact the United States.

On November 6, Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui who has been in jail in the US since 2010 on charges of attempted murder and assault on US personnel wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the letter appealed to the prime minister for her release, calling her imprisonment in the US illegal.

Following the letter, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Dr Aafia’s issued had been raised regularly with US authorities. In a press release, the ministry stated that the issue of respecting the human and legal rights of Dr Aafia Siddiqui was also raised in the meeting at the Foreign Office with Ambassador Alice Wells.