Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a US-educated Pakistani scientist, gained international attention when she imprisoned in 2010 and sentenced to 86 years by a New York federal district court in 2008. The charges against her included attempted murder and assault, stemming from an incident during an interview with US authorities in Ghazni, Afghanistan, charges she vehemently denied.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s disappearance in Karachi around 2003, along with her three children, remained a mystery until she later found in Afghanistan, where she was arrested by local forces in the troubled province of Ghazni five years after her disappearance.
In a touching and emotional encounter, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui finally reunited with her sister, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, after two long decades at a prison hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, US. However, the distressing condition in which she found Dr. Aafia left her unable to recognize her sibling.
Dr. Fowzia, accompanied by Senator Mushtaq from Jamaat-e-Islami and human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, traveled to the United States for the highly anticipated meeting. Unlike past administrations, Dr. Fowzia thanked the current government for arranging the meeting.
During the emotional encounter, the drastic deterioration of Dr. Aafia’s condition shocked Dr. Fowzia. Her imprisonment had taken a heavy toll, rendering her unrecognizable to her sister. Dr. Fowzia shared her deep concern for Dr. Aafia’s well-being and emphasized the urgent need for repatriation. She revealed that their next meeting scheduled for July.
Despite the physical separation enforced by transparent glass and communication limited to phone conversations, Dr. Aafia had the opportunity to meet with her sister three times and engage in discussions with Senator Mushtaq and the human rights lawyer.
Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami party organized a grand rally to welcome back Senator Mushtaq upon his return from the United States. The rally, marked by a vehicular procession and a public gathering, aimed to show solidarity and support for his meeting with Dr. Aafia. Although Dr. Fowzia couldn’t attend the event due to flight unavailability, she contacted the crowd by telephone.
During the rally, Senator Mushtaq called on the nation to raise their voices in demanding the release of Dr. Aafia, urging the government to take immediate action. He criticized the severe 86-year imprisonment and highlighted the mistreatment Dr. Aafia has endured, underscoring the urgent need to address the violation of human rights. Furthermore, he expressed disappointment in previous ruling parties who remained silent on the issue once in power, despite their vocal support while in opposition.
