ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has constituted a four-member committee headed by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to look into the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the PM’s House said on Tuesday.
The premier took the decision in a meeting with William Ramsey Clark, former attorney general of United States, and Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr Aafia, who called on him at the PM’s House. Other members of the committee include ministers for law, interior and human rights. The meeting discussed in detail the matters relating to Aafia, who is detained in the United States.
The prime minister gave Dr Fauzia a very patient hearing and said he understood the agony of her family and assured her of all possible assistance, the Prime Minister House statement said.
Meanwhile, Ramsey Clark and Federal Minister Farooq Sattar termed the imprisonment of Aafia a tragedy and said the government should immediately play its role for her release.
Talking to media on arrival at the Benazir International Airport, Clark said Aafia’s trial was not justified.“Aafia is a mother and a daughter. Justice demands that Aafia Siddiqui should immediately be released. Pakistan should raise this issue,” he suggested.
Earlier, the activists of Aafia Siddiqui Release Movement warmly welcomed Ramsey Clark on his arrival at the airport. Farooq Sattar said if the government of Pakistan could write a letter, then the US would consider freeing Aafia and added if they wished let them not write any other letter, but there was no hitch in writing a letter for the release of Dr Aafia.