Task force proposals: Dr Aafia Siddiqui can be repatriated, says official
Government has agreed to sign both treaties for which the prime minister’s approval is awaited: Interior ministry
Aafia Siddiqui is seen in a February 3, 2010 courtroom sketch in New York City, New York, United States, in this still image taken from video footage on January 18, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The task force on the repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national convicted and jailed in the United States on terrorism charges, has recommended that she be brought back to Pakistan through conventions on the transfer of sentenced persons.
For making her repatriation possible, Pakistani authorities would have to sign either of the two treaties allowing such an exchange, the task force formed by interior minister has recommended to the government. The treaties are Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Inter-American Convention on Serving Criminal Sentences Abroad.
“The government has agreed to sign both treaties for which the prime minister’s approval is awaited,” said an interior ministry official. The ministry official said the Foreign Office would initiate the process of signing the treaties with the US after approval from the prime minister. “It would not take too long once the government decides”.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2013.
The task force on the repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national convicted and jailed in the United States on terrorism charges, has recommended that she be brought back to Pakistan through conventions on the transfer of sentenced persons.
For making her repatriation possible, Pakistani authorities would have to sign either of the two treaties allowing such an exchange, the task force formed by interior minister has recommended to the government. The treaties are Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Inter-American Convention on Serving Criminal Sentences Abroad.
“The government has agreed to sign both treaties for which the prime minister’s approval is awaited,” said an interior ministry official. The ministry official said the Foreign Office would initiate the process of signing the treaties with the US after approval from the prime minister. “It would not take too long once the government decides”.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2013.