The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to contact the US Ambassador in Pakistan to inquire why the Prime Minister’s letter to US President Joe Biden, requesting the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, has not received a response.
In a written order, the IHC expressed concern over the lack of a reply, which it deemed a breach of diplomatic norms. The court directed MoFA to reach out to the US Ambassador no later than the close of business on the following day. The court also instructed MoFA to include a section in its response regarding the compliance with this order and the US Ambassador’s reply.
According to a report by ARY News on Wednesday, MoFA informed the court that despite sending a reminder through the Pakistan Embassy, no response had been received from the White House. The IHC requested MoFA to submit a copy of the reminder along with any replies for the record.
Earlier, during the hearing, the IHC had also requested details regarding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s foreign visits, particularly those related to Dr. Aafia’s release.
Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Dr. Aafia’s sister, along with her lawyer Imran Shafiq, former senator Mushtaq, and other representatives, appeared via video link. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Additional Attorney General attended the session, while Dr. Aafia’s US lawyer, Clive Smith, submitted a declaration. The court appreciated his declaration and instructed MoFA to address the issue at the diplomatic level.
