Money well spent?

It is unfortunate that official efforts to assist Dr Siddiqui received only the most limited publicity.

For months we have heard insinuations and accusations that the government had not done enough to defend Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who was awarded an 86-year jail sentence by a US court on charges of using weapons against US soldiers in Afghanistan. According to a report in this newspaper, the government may have done a great deal — though like much else, its way of going about it raises questions.

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Affairs has been told by the foreign ministry that the prime minister had approved a sum of $2 million to meet her legal expenses. This certainly does not show lack of interest. But it is disturbing that just under half this sum is unaccounted for.

Also, the legal team hired by the Pakistani Embassy in the US was never approved of by Dr Aafia. But this does not mean much given that there has been concern over her mental welfare. It is also worth noting the attorneys hired were persons of sound repute, who should have been able to put up a good defence. However, as the Senate Committee observed, this was always going to be difficult without the full assistance of the family.

An internal audit has been ordered into the matter of the legal expenses. Perhaps there should also be an examination of why many aspects of government work run into trouble simply because of poor planning. The government needs to consider how money allocated for such purposes can be most effectively used, and if Dr Aafia Siddiqui is the only Pakistani prisoner deserving help. There may indeed be others and it would be a good move to look into the plight of those held around the globe and determine how they can best be assisted. It is also unfortunate that official efforts to assist Dr Siddiqui received only the most limited publicity, leaving behind the impression that little was done to help her.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2010.