LEGAL
The federal government has formally declined to offer legal assistance or become a party in the ongoing Aafia Siddiqui case in a US court, prompting sharp remarks and a demand for explanation from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
During a hearing on Monday led by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, the court reviewed a petition concerning Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s health and repatriation. The session was attended by the petitioner’s counsel Imran Shafiq, the Additional Attorney General, and other government officials.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the government had made a conscious decision not to join the case being heard in the United States. However, he failed to provide any justification for the decision.
"Why has this decision been made? What are the reasons?" asked Justice Sardar Ijaz, pressing the government representative to explain the rationale.
The judge stressed that decisions by the government or Attorney General’s office must be backed by reasons, especially when presented before a constitutional court.
“This is not acceptable,” the judge noted. “You cannot simply come to court, state a decision, and walk away without offering legal justification.”
Court Sets July 4 Deadline for Government Response
The court directed the Additional Attorney General to present detailed reasons for the refusal in the next hearing scheduled for July 4. The court emphasized that the matter involves fundamental rights, international obligations, and humanitarian concerns regarding a Pakistani citizen detained abroad.
Background
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, is currently serving an 86-year prison sentence in the United States for attempted murder of US personnel in Afghanistan. Her case has drawn widespread attention and public sympathy in Pakistan, where various governments have pledged efforts toward her repatriation, though no substantial progress has been made.
The latest decision by the federal government not to engage legally in her case has raised serious questions about Pakistan’s diplomatic and legal stance on the matter.
The upcoming hearing is expected to shed light on the government's reasoning and determine whether further legal or diplomatic action is feasible.
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