Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving a lengthy sentence in the U.S. The Islamabad High Court recently supported the government’s petition seeking a presidential pardon for Dr. Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to raise the issue during talks with U.S. officials at the United Nations assembly. The government is also preparing a clemency plea, emphasizing Dr. Siddiqui’s deteriorating health and public sentiment surrounding her case.
Dr. Siddiqui has been a controversial figure in both Pakistan and the U.S. since her conviction in 2010. The Pakistani government has pursued various legal and diplomatic avenues for her release, but progress has been slow. Her family, led by her sister Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, has been at the forefront of the campaign, pushing for humanitarian considerations to be prioritized.
In addition to the clemency request, Pakistan has explored the possibility of a prisoner exchange agreement with the U.S. This move has garnered significant attention from local media and advocacy groups, who hope that international pressure might finally lead to her repatriation
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