Entire nation is united on one point agenda of release of Dr Aafia from American prison and bringing her back with honour and dignity as this will prove a turning point for Pakistan, said Senator Talha Mehmood, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Interior here on Tuesday.
"The unity and solidarity of the nation on Dr Aafia will prove a driving force for the nation and it will help resolve all other issues, Pakistan is facing at present," Senator Talha said while talking to media after a candle light vigil organised by Defence for Human Rights (DHR) to provoke the conscience of the present government to raise the issue with US authorities.
Besides Senator Talha Mehmood, Amna Masood Janjua, Chairperson of HDR, Tasneem Siddiqui of PML (N), Dr Attiya Inayatullah of PML (Q), Aamir Kiyani of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and huge number of activists of political parties, civil society, human rights organisations and students of various educational institutes attended the march.
Talha Mehmood admitted that the Parliament could not play its due role on this important issue, adding that he is part of the Parliament and has made all out efforts to highlight this issue on every national and international forum. "This is not only a national issue of Pakistan but entire Muslim Ummah and whole Muslim World should stand and put pressure on the US for immediate release of Dr Aafia," he added.
He said the issue would be raised at the United Nations and with international human rights organisations to pressurise the US. He said the Senate Standing Committee on Interior has invited an All Parties Conference on Thursday (January 21) and all major political parties including PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and all regional parties and civil society organisations will participate in the conference.
"It will be a big boost to national unity and open new vistas of unity and solidarity in Pakistan," he added. He said that return of Dr Aafia would be sole one point agenda of the conference. Amna Masood speaking on the occasion said that return of Dr Aafia is a national demand and present government should pay heed to this demand in spite of following the dictation of Americans.
She said that movement for release of Dr Aafia would be a turning point and help get all Pakistanis back who are detained in different jails. She said over 6650 persons are detained at Bagram US base and 90 per cent out of them are Pakistanis. All these detainees are Pakistanis and it is responsibility of present government to bring them back.
The participants of the Candle Light vigil urged the US government to immediately release Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Speaking on the occasion the guest speakers said that all out efforts would be made for the release of Dr Aafia. They said that the Government has sold her just for the sake of few pennies. They said she is the daughter of our nation and she must be released with all respect.
They said the whole nation is aware of her condition and type of physical and mental torture she is passing through during her imprisonment in US. The speakers demanded of the Chief Justice to take up the issue on an immediate basis and try to provide justice to her and her family.