ISLAMABAD-The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday granted time to Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit its reply in a petition filed for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the US prison. 
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted the hearing of the petition filed by Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui through her counsel Sajid Qureshi Advocate and nominated Federation of Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interior Ministry as respondents.  Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, is serving an 86-year prison sentence in the US for attacking American soldiers in Afghanistan.  During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid Mehmood appeared before the court and apprised the court that detailed response of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this matter is ready and he needs some time to submit it.  Accepting his request, the IHC bench granted him three days to submit the reply within three days and deferred the proceedings with date in office.  Fauzia Siddiqui’s counsel said that the state has a responsibility to protect its citizens. He claimed that Aafia Siddiqui was abducted and there has been no update whether she was still alive or not.  The deputy attorney general informed the court that Pakistani consulate in the United States (US) looks after the case. 
Justice Aamer remarked that you have not even filed the report properly. We will not deal with this case based on your statements. The case was fixed for hearing four years later and even today a proper report has not been filed.