ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Friday that the proposed exchange of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the United States, with Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor jailed for alleged ties to the CIA, is not feasible due to the absence of a prisoner exchange treaty between Pakistan and the US.
The statement was made by the Additional Attorney General (AAG) during a hearing presided over by Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan. The case pertains to the release and repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year sentence in a US prison after being convicted in 2010 on charges of attempting to kill US military personnel in Afghanistan.
At the hearing, Dr. Aafia’s American lawyer, Clive Smith, had suggested the possibility of exchanging his client with Shakil Afridi, who is currently imprisoned in Pakistan for his alleged role in helping the CIA locate Osama bin Laden. However, the AAG clarified that such an exchange is not viable as there is no formal agreement between Pakistan and the US for the transfer of prisoners.
The AAG further informed the court that the Pakistani government has raised objections to the draft of a petition filed by Dr. Aafia in a US court. In response, the court directed the federal government to provide a detailed response regarding its objections and instructed the AAG to seek further instructions from the government before the next hearing.
The AAG also noted that both Dr. Aafia and Shakil Afridi are Pakistani citizens, and the US has not responded to a letter sent by Pakistan regarding Dr. Aafia’s case. He added that the US President had previously rejected a mercy plea for Dr. Aafia, and a formal response was submitted to the court on February 19. However, no further communication has been received from the US on the matter.
Following these submissions, the court adjourned the case and directed the AAG to present the government’s stance at the next hearing.
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