By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Friday that former US President Joe Biden had rejected Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s mercy petition.
IHC bench, headed by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, heard the petition regarding Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release and return to Pakistan.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, revealed that the United States had also turned down a proposed prisoner swap arrangement with Pakistan.
The court was further informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had submitted a report responding to the court’s queries, including information about the foreign visits of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
It was noted, however, that the Pakistani ambassador in the US had not attended meetings regarding Dr. Aafia’s case.
Expressing concern over the lack of progress, Justice Sardar Ejaz remarked, “The US is showing us our worth.” The judge also criticized the US administration, drawing a comparison between Biden’s pardoning of his son’s sentence and the denial of clemency for Dr. Aafia, a Pakistani citizen.
The IHC adjourned the hearing for two weeks, with further deliberations expected.
It is pertinent to mention here that the neuroscientist was handed down an 86-year sentence in 2010 on charges of attempted murder and assault of US personnel in Afghanistan jail. She is serving the jail term in Carswell, a high-security prison in, Fort Worth, Texas.
In October, the federal government had informed the IHC that a delegation was being sent to the US for the release of Dr Aafia.
The AAG had then on December 2, 2024, apprised the IHC that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had inked a summary seeking financial support for a delegation tasked with release of neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
After that, the Pakistani delegation had held hours-long meeting with incarcerated Dr Aafia at the US prison.
The meeting with Aafia, who has been languishing in prison for more than 10 years, was attended by Senators Bushra Anjum and Talha Mahmood along with psychiatrist Dr Iqbal Afridi.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case began in 2003 after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), Al-Qaeda’s 9/11 mastermind. Siddiqui, reportedly married to KSM’s nephew, disappeared with her children in Karachi, later earning the title “Lady Al-Qaeda” due to alleged links with Al-Qaeda.
In 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan, allegedly carrying sodium cyanide and plans for attacks on US targets. During interrogation, Siddiqui reportedly wrestled hold of a US soldier’s rifle and attempted to shoot US agents. She was wounded in the process and later showed signs of severe mistreatment.
Siddiqui’s son was released in Afghanistan, while her other two children’s whereabouts remain unknown. In 2010, she was convicted of attempted murder in the US and sentenced to 86 years, though she was never charged with direct ties to terrorism.
