Mushtaq Ahmad Khan Criticizes Government’s Efforts for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s Release
Islamabad:Former Senator and prominent Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, has strongly criticized the Pakistani government’s efforts for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who has been imprisoned in the United States for over a decade. Khan described the government’s approach as characterized by “graveyard-like silence” in the corridors of power, particularly in relation to the diplomatic efforts for her release.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan expressed frustration over the government’s failure to secure any meaningful progress. He wrote, *”Bring Dr. Aafia Siddiqui back! Today, the government delegation is returning from the US without securing any apology or significant development for Aafia.”*
Khan highlighted the lack of engagement by Pakistani officials in Washington, pointing out that the Pakistani Ambassador to the US did not attend any meetings during the delegation’s visit. He further criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for failing to arrange a meeting with the Biden administration, and noted that despite court orders, the US has still not issued an official visa for Dr. Aafia’s sister, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, to travel.
He also quoted Islamabad High Court Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq, who described the current situation as *”heartbreaking”* and deeply disappointing. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan elaborated on a recent visit to Parliament House, where he, along with Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui and their lawyer, Imran Shafiq, attempted to seek support for Aafia’s case but found *”graveyard-like silence”* in the Parliament. He said efforts to meet with the Senate Chairman on the issue had also been fruitless.
Khan urged the government to act swiftly, emphasizing that the window for seeking clemency from the outgoing US President Joe Biden was still open. He urged the government, under the leadership of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, to send a high-level delegation to the US immediately to push for Aafia Siddiqui’s release.
Khan questioned whether the government would make any effort to atone for its failures in securing justice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, adding, *”In the clemency petition, there is nothing to give; it’s only to take back the life of our daughter. Will the government or the state at least do this much for the innocent Dr. Aafia?”*
The call for action has once again brought attention to the long-standing issue of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s incarceration and the ongoing debate surrounding her case in Pakistan.
