In response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's appeal to President Biden for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the U.S. State Department emphasized that it would not comment on private diplomatic communications.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel referred inquiries regarding Dr. Siddiqui's incarceration to the Department of Justice, maintaining that such matters are subject to the legal processes within the United States.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for attempting to kill American officials in Afghanistan. The case has been a contentious issue in U.S.-Pakistan relations, with calls for her release from various quarters in Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan writes letter to US seeking presidential pardon for Dr Aafia Siddiqui
The government of Pakistan has officially requested a presidential pardon for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, currently imprisoned in the United States, according to a report presented in the Islamabad High Court.
During a hearing on the ongoing efforts for her release and repatriation, the Additional Attorney General, Manoor Iqbal Dogal, informed the court that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to the U.S. President, seeking a pardon for Siddiqui.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan presided over the case, which was filed by Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Aafia Siddiqui, requesting the government’s efforts for her release and safe return to Pakistan. Advocate Imran Shafiq appeared in court on behalf of Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, emphasizing the urgency of the matter and expressing hopes that the letter would pave the way for her repatriation.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted in the United States in 2010 for attempted murder and assault on U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
What is Aafia Siddiqui's case?
The case of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, remains one of the most contentious legal issues involving Pakistan and the United States.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Siddiqui's life took a drastic turn after the events of September 11, 2001, leading to a series of allegations, arrests, and convictions that have sparked outrage, debate, and diplomatic tensions.
