The government of Pakistan has officially sought a presidential pardon for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is currently imprisoned in the United States, as reported in the Islamabad High Court. During a recent hearing regarding her release and repatriation, Additional Attorney General Manoor Iqbal Dogal informed the court that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written to the U.S. President requesting the pardon.
The case was presided over by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, following a petition filed by Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, Aafia’s sister, urging the government to take steps for her release and safe return to Pakistan. Advocate Imran Shafiq represented Dr. Fauzia in court, emphasizing the urgency of the matter and expressing hope that the letter would facilitate Aafia’s repatriation.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted in 2010 in the U.S. for attempted murder and assault on American personnel in Afghanistan. Her case has been a contentious issue in U.S.-Pakistan relations, filled with allegations, arrests, and claims of injustice.
Born in 1972 in Karachi, Siddiqui earned a PhD in neuroscience from Brandeis University in 2001. After the September 11 attacks, she faced accusations of links to extremist organizations. Her name surfaced in the U.S. media in 2003, and in 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan under controversial circumstances. Accused of attempting to shoot American soldiers during interrogation, Siddiqui was severely wounded by U.S. personnel.
Her 2010 trial in New York, which resulted in an 86-year sentence despite a lack of physical evidence, drew significant criticism and became a symbol of perceived injustice in Pakistan. Siddiqui is often referred to as the “Daughter of the Nation,” and her case continues to fuel anti-American sentiment, prompting ongoing protests and calls for her release. Currently, she is serving her sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, where concerns about her health persist.
