US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson advised that the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is still in the courts and therefore discussion of future plans are premature. She also urged the Foreign Ministry to expedite travel documents for Pakistani nationals awaiting deportation from the United States. In her meeting Monday with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador observed, "Dr. Siddiqui has not yet been sentenced and also has the right to appeal her conviction -- so the U.S. legal process is not yet concluded." The Ambassador also said the U.S. supports efforts to help Pakistan to repatriate Pakistani citizens overseas. She noted that about 300 Pakistanis in the United States are not able to return home because the Government of Pakistan has not issued them travel documents such as passports, according to a statement issued by the US embassy Many of these individuals are facing legal action and deportation orders for being illegally resident in the United States, yet are unable to return home without valid travel documents. Ambassador Patterson appealed to the Ministry to allow these Pakistani citizens to return home and rejoin their families.