IHC seeks draft of mercy plea for Dr Aafia's release

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the additional attorney general (AAG) to share the draft of mercy petition to be filed with the White House to seek clemency and release of incarcerated neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the plea regarding the release and repatriation of Dr Siddiqui, who is currently languishing in a US jail, undergoing 86-year imprisonment awarded to her in 2010. During the hearing, Dr Siddiqui's lawyer Clive Smith appeared in the court via a video link.

The court remarked that lawyer Smith tried to go to Afghanistan in connection with Siddiqui's case but none of the government officials stood by him. The judge wondered what the government was afraid of. The AAG said that the government supported Dr Siddiqui's sister Fauzia on a permanent basis.

The AAG informed the court that a policy level decision took some time. Responding to a court query, whether the government was writing a mercy petition to the White House, the AAG replied that the government of Pakistan was doing its best.

He added that there was a new development which had to be placed before the court. He said that a motion in the United States could only be filed by a US attorney.

On that the judge asked what the government would do, if the American lawyer said that the motion could be filed.

On assertion that the lawyer Clive Smith would file a motion in the US, the AAG requested that the draft of the mercy appeal to the US president should be shared with the government of Pakistan. He sought two-three weeks' time. Later, the hearing was adjourned till September 13.