'Parties concerted efforts can bring Aafia back

LAHORE - Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national awarded 86 years imprisonment by a US court, can be brought back to the country if the government and political parties make concerted efforts for the purpose, Tina Foster, Executive Director of International Justice Network, the attorney representing the family of the detained doctor, said here on Tuesday. At a news conference at the Lahore Press Club, she said the US administration would certainly listen if the government and political parties showed resolve to bring Aafia home. She warned if the people of Pakistan let the sentence stand, any citizen of this country could be taken to the US again in future. She said the US claimed to have arrested Aafia in Pakistan, and therefore the US government should have sent her to the country. But instead they took her illegally to the United States, she added. This is not an issue of a single woman but the whole nation, she said, adding if you did not stand up for Aafia, no one would be able to your rescue in case you would be in need of someones support. Dr Aafias sister Dr Fozia talking to TheNation said she loved to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff for her sisters release. She said Dr Aafia matter had been politicised by some elements and some American-funded NGOs also tried their best to hush up the matter of her release.

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