ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed its concern over the US government’s prisoners swap agreement with Pakistan, which calls for a release of Shakil Afridi in exchange for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Dr. Afridi has been detained on charges of helping the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hunt down Osama Bin Laden after which he was sentenced to 33-year jail in May last year for his links to a banned militant group.
Aafia was sentenced to 86-year jail on September 23, 2010 after she was found guilty on seven counts, including attempted murder. She is currently being held at an American maximum-security prison in Fort Worth, Texas.
According to US prosecutors, the day after her arrest, she grabbed an M-4 rifle in her interrogation room and started shooting while yelling “death to America.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf press release said that there are “serious issues” with accepting the conditions laid down by the US for the release of Aafia.
The US government’s conditions to release Aafia dictates that Pakistan accept that she is a terrorist and should complete the remainder of her life sentence in Pakistan.
Moreover, the conditions state that Pakistan should accept that her trial in the US was fair and justified.
The PTI statement said that these conditions were unacceptable and hoped that the government would not accept any conditions forcibly asked for by the US government. It pointed out that US is under strong congressional pressure to seek the release of Afridi, who is termed “a collaborator of illegal US activities in Pakistan”.
The PTI added that if the prisoners swap agreement is to work it should not be based on any conditions.
“If the US insists on them, then there should be a mutual agreement to label the swapped prisoners as ‘terrorists’ or ‘traitors’”.
Calling the US trial and conviction biased, the PTI release said that even though the people of Pakistan are eager for Aafia to return, they do not want to accept her as a terrorist simply at the behest of the US.
Staff Reporter from Karachi adds: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Sardar Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari has shown deep concern over the increasing number of street crimes and robberies in Karachi ,adding, that PTI MPAs will raise these issues in Sindh Assembly session.
He expressed these views during a meeting with the nominated candidate for NA-254 Naeem Sheikh at his residence.
General Secretary PTI Sindh Hafeezuddin and Convener PTI Candidate Forum Karachi Jawad Jelani were also present on the occasion while Naeem Sheikh discussed concerns of his constituency and the various issues of the people.
Naeem said that robbery and street crimes are being witnessed in Korangi Industrial Area on daily basis whereas police has become a silent observer as if they are being benefitted by these offences.
Leghari said that Karachiites have decided to go against corruption and ineligible politicians.
He further said that residents of NA-254 will vote for PTI candidate in the by-elections on August 22nd.