The federal government informed Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday about a proposal to exchange Dr. Aafia Siddiqui for Shakeel Afridi.
IHC judge Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard a petition searching Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release from the US prison.
During the hearing, additional prosecutor Manzoor Iqbal Dogar claimed that the proposal to extradite Afridi in exchange for Siddiqui’s release was not possible.
The proposal was originally proposed by Dr. Siddiqui’s advice, Clive Smith, as part of the efforts to secure her release.
He also raised concerns about questions in a draft petition filed to a US court concerning Dr. Siddiqui’s case. Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan expressed surprise at the government’s attitude, which seemed to support Siddiqui’s petition for release in the US court.
IHC ordered the lawyer to consult the government and give an answer to any objections raised at the next Friday’s consultation.
Dogar also noted that both Shakeel Afridi and Aafia Siddiqui are Pakistani citizens and emphasized that Pakistan has no agreement with the United States on prisoner exchanges.
During the hearing, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq asked about the importance of Afridi for the United States and asked for an update on his case.
Zainab Janjua, a court assistant, informed the court that Shakeel Afridi is convicted with his appeal, still pending in Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Fauzia Siddiqui’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, mentioned that Afridi faces espionage and provides help.
Iqbal Dogar also stated the court that a letter was submitted to the case on February 19, but former US President Joe Biden had rejected the request without recognizing it.
To this, Justice Khan raised concerns about the lack of a response from the White House and questioned the diplomatic prosperity by sending a letter without a response.
Sublicent postponed the IHC hearing of the case until next Friday.
Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving an 86-year judgment in the United States in her conviction of a federal court in New York in 2010 on murder trials and other charges.
