The Supreme Court on Monday proposed to the government to seek repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui along with other Pakistanis imprisoned in foreign jails, as it may yield result. Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a neurologist who is languishing in a US jail on charges of trying to kill US agents and military officers in Afghanistan. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, heard the petition related to release of Aafia Siddiqui. Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia, last year had filed a petition requesting the top court to issue direction to the government to formulate a comprehensive policy for protecting fundamental rights of Pakistanis detained abroad, including Aafia Siddiqui.
Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas informed the court that Aafia's meeting with the Pakistan counselor is held after every three months. Justice Azmat asked the DAG to see the possibility if Aafia's sentence can be completed in jails in Pakistan. "A breakthrough is likely in Dr Aafia's matter by highlighting her case with other Pakistani prisoners," he said. The case was adjourned for an indefinite period.
On February 3, 2010, a US federal court in New York found Aafia guilty of two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and three counts of assault on US officers and employees. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison. Her sister, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui repeatedly urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to support Aafia's case.
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