Pakistan

Aafia Siddiqui is innocent: Farooq Sattar

MQM leader says Dr Aafia Siddiqui is innocent and demands that the United States release her.

Express September 26, 2010

KARACHI: Muttahaida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Sunday said that Dr Aafia Siddiqui is innocent and demanded that the United States release her.

Sattar was speaking to the media after visiting Dr Aafia's house. He said that the MQM strongly condemned the sentencing of Dr Aafia and that they will leave 'no stone unturned' to bring her back. He also said that the pain that Dr Aafia has gone through is also felt by the nation and not her family.

He demanded that the Obama administration should take back the case and release her immediately.

Earlier, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had called on the US to withdraw the sentence and release Dr Aafia.

Various voices in Pakistan have criticised and sympathised with Dr Aafia since the sentence.

COMMENTS (17)

basharat | 14 years ago | Reply Repatriation of convicted person , before expiry of the sentence , can take place , only in special circumstances . She must follow the legal course and file an appeal against the conviction and sentence . The sentence , prime facie is harsh which is very likely to be altered in her favour.

Jabbar Kakar | 14 years ago | Reply Afia Siddiqui is a convicted terrorist and she better stay where she has been lodged. She was given 86 years US visa by the court for her acts

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Saeed | 14 years ago | Reply she is a American, and she was Fast friend of American..and yes she was part of Terrorist network.

Khawaja Faraz Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply can we call it hypocrisy?

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply I think that that in their hate for the MQM people choose not to refer to the MQM's track record. The MQM has been talking against the ill treatment of women in all sorts of guises in the predominately illustrate culture of Pakistan. The MQM is the only major political party in the Muslim world that held rally in the support of September 11 victims right after that attack 9 years ago. Therefore, the MQM's stance against Aafia Siddqui's sentence is significant to watch.

Schaze | 14 years ago | Reply Totally agree with you Mehnaz.

Ishaq | 14 years ago | Reply Dirty Politics

Sheikh Sarmad | 14 years ago | Reply Why no protest for her husband Amar al Balochi...after all he is son-in-law of pakistan.

Tony Khan | 14 years ago | Reply She married a known operative of Al Qaeda. This fact alone makes her guilty.

Yasser | 14 years ago | Reply what is the problem with people of Pakistan, why they can't even unite on the fact that 86 years of imprisonment shows bigotry. Let's make it clear and put our point of view in front of US instead of throwing mud on each other

Mehnaz | 14 years ago | Reply Another irreponsible statement by a politician to stir public emotions. Unless Mr. Farooq was physically present at the scene of the alleged crime (for which Afia is convicted), how can he speak of her innocence with such confidence? I ask Mr. Farooq where are his sensitivities for countless, nameless women who die (or I should say are killed) in the name of honour, or are paraded naked in front of their own countrymen? Ofcourse, that happens by our own people, is not very sensational to discuss, and does not offer political mileage! Kindly make statements that do not create more chaos and/or results in violence in karachi or elsewhere in Pakistan!

Anoop | 14 years ago | Reply I thought she was the citizen of USA. On what basis will US send her to Pakistan?

lkhan | 14 years ago | Reply She has been proven guilty by a court of law, one ought to respect the judge's decision and get on with life. We see in Pakistan what the jihadists are up to, whether blowing up mosques, schools, police forces and ordinary citizens. This woman has been declared guilty by a court of law in the USA, where I am sure she has had all means for to defend herself. Let us not react in the same extreme manner as the extremists, instead support those who back humanitarian ways, equality for all especially the gender issue, education etc.

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply @Watch dog from UK Its not a policy shift, earlier MQM was observing entire Aafia's episode including the court proceeding as it would be unfair to cry for case which is already under court. Now the verdict has been announced and they have every legal right to speak on this issue. Connecting Afia's case with Imran farooq's murder is a typical Jamat e Islami view is which is simply a waste of time.

rehan | 14 years ago | Reply Hypocracy.Dual Standards.It would do the nation a great deal of good if MQM offered any comments on what role their 'brother' Musharraf had in letting all this issue build up to what it has today.Mukhtara Mai,Dr.Ayesha rape case.....and now we have Dr.Aafia being capitalized upon.POLITICS AT ITS BEST.

watchdog from UK | 14 years ago | Reply Uncle Sam must be watching MQM's latest shift in its stance as regards to the United States. Mr Altaf Hussain, who must be under tremendous pressure following murder of Imran Farooq, has signalled a shift in his pro-US policy by issuing statements which are in tune with Jamat e Islami's strong anti American policies. Farooq Sattar has now announced a 'rally' in support of Aafia Siddiqui. This is just to show their street power to the UK. The murder of Imran Farooq is still under investigations by the Scotland Yard. The puzzling thing is that the body of Imran Farooq is still not being released and it is still unclear where he would be buried. Mrs Imran Farooq is still under safe custody of the Scotland Yard. There is a thick mystery surrounding at present. This must be causing lot of tension for MQM supremo and his subordinates.

Aasia Sohail Mian | 14 years ago | Reply I totally agree with the statement of Dr. Farooq Sattar about Aafia Saddiqi but may I ask one question that where was he his government and her accomplice when sentence was not announced and every citizen of Pakistan knew that she will not be spared by the American Government. More over Zardari has shown least concern on this matter to whom MQM is always supporting..

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