Unable to convince US govt for Dr Aafia Siddiqui's release: Ishaq Dar

Foreign minister says PM Shehbaz has written to the US President requesting humanitarian relief for her

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has announced that there has been no success yet regarding the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. He explained that the government has attempted to persuade American leadership for her pardon but has yet to achieve success.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written to the US President requesting humanitarian relief for Dr Aafia. A three-member committee has been formed to engage with American parliamentarians to lobby for her pardon, release, and return to Pakistan.

Dar made these remarks while speaking at the international conference "China 75: A Journey of Development, Transformation, and Global Leadership" on Tuesday. He referred to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a "magnificent gift" from China to Pakistan.

He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further develop the initiative to enhance cooperation in agriculture, industrial growth, renewable energy, and other sectors.

Dar noted that CPEC has bolstered Pakistan’s energy infrastructure, aiding the country in addressing load-shedding issues. He revealed that the government is taking steps to implement China's offer to send 1,000 Pakistani students to China for agricultural technology training.

Emphasising Pakistan's stance on international issues, Dar stated that the country values China’s cooperation in resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues and reiterated unwavering support for the One China policy.

He expressed hope that, through the hard work of Chinese leadership and its people, China would soon become the world's largest economy.

On the ongoing violence in Gaza, Dar highlighted that Pakistan is among the few countries openly supporting the Palestinian people, calling for an end to the massacre and adherence to United Nations resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings.

He stated that so far, 48,000 innocent Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives, with an additional 80,000 injured.

Expressing concern over attacks on Lebanon and Iran, Dar noted that Pakistan has sent ten major aid shipments to Gaza and initiated steps to facilitate the education of Palestinian students in Pakistani public and private medical colleges.

In a letter written by the PM to the US president, Shehbaz Sharif stated that Dr Aafia Siddiqui had been sentenced to 86 years in prison by a US District Court.

He urged Biden to use his constitutional authority to grant a pardon and order her release on humanitarian grounds.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that Dr Aafia Siddiqui's family, along with millions of Pakistanis, were awaiting the act of kindness.

Dr Aafia has been incarcerated in FMC Carswell since September 2010, serving 16 years in a US jail.

The PM noted that over the years, Pakistani officials had held consular meetings with Dr Aafia Siddiqui, during which serious concerns about her medical treatment were raised.

There are significant worries regarding her deteriorating mental and physical health, and concerns have been expressed that she may take her own life. Her case should be viewed with compassion, the letter mentioned.

The prime minister wrote that it was his "solemn duty" to ensure the wellbeing of his citizens, appealing to Biden to fulfill the same role as a head of state. "I am well aware of how passionately you have fought for the rights of your citizens, particularly those stranded or held captive abroad," the PM wrote.

"You would, therefore, fully understand that as prime minister, it is my solemn duty to intervene when it becomes necessary to ensure a citizen's wellbeing, particularly when the circumstances are as dire as they are in this case."

The prime minister urged Biden to release Dr Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds, writing, "I have always known you to be a committed friend of Pakistan who has demonstrated warmth and genuine friendship for our people.

"I request you, Mr president, to kindly exercise your constitutional authority and accept Dr Siddiqui's clemency petition and order her release, strictly on humanitarian grounds."