The lawyer who represents the Pakistani neurologist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in the United States, Clive Stafford Smith, has decided to visit Pakistan to participate in a case consultation regarding her release and repatriation.
Imran Shafique, Aafia Siddiqui’s local lawyer, Islamabad High Court (IHC) told Smith’s decision during a hearing Monday.
Smith is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 4, as confirmed by Shafique. In light of this development, Shafique requested that IHC postpone the current consultation and set the next date for May 6 to allow for consultation with Smith.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, who was chairman of the consultation, asked government representatives if they had any objections to the proposed date.
The lawyer confirmed that there were no objections and the court then planned the next hearing on May 6th.
IHC also noted the absence of newly appointed further lawyer Umar Aslam during the case. The case has now been postponed until May 6 for further considerations.
In the past, during the previous consultation, the federal government rejected the proposal to exchange Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release to transfer Dr. Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who is convicted of helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, born in 1972 in Karachi, Pakistan, was a skilled neuroscientist who served a PhD. from Brandeis University in 2001.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case began in 2003 after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), al-Qaedas 9/11 Mastermind. Siddiqui, reportedly married to KSM’s nephew, disappeared with his children in Karachi and later served the title “Lady Al-Qaeda” because of alleged connections with al-Qaeda.
In 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan, allegedly with sodium cyanide and plans for attacks on US targets. During the interrogation, Siddiqui reportedly fought a US soldier rifle and tried to shoot American agents and shouted “Death to America.” She was wounded in the process and later showed signs of serious abuse.
Siddiqui’s son was released in Afghanistan, while her two other children’s residence remains unknown. In 2010, she was convicted of murder attempts in the United States and sentenced to 86 years, though she was never indicted for direct ties to terrorism.
