Senate body for US envoy’s cooperation

from Pakistan Observer

Islamabad—The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday directed the Foreign Ministry to contact US ambassador seeking her cooperation on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case and submit report on the details of expenditures of Rs 2 millions allocated for hearing of the case.

Senate panel asked Foreign Ministry to take immediate steps for early release and repatriation of Pakistani prisoners held in jails of various countries.

The panel of lawmakers urged Interior Ministry and local administration to remove hurdles erected at roads and streets as well as to take necessary steps for early transfer of foreign diplomatic missions from residential areas to Diplomatic Enclave.

The Senate body met under the chairmanship of Senator Talha Mehmood here while Senators Jamal Leghari, Almas Parveen, Tariq Azeem, Najma Hameed and Gulshan Saeed along with Minister of State for Interior Tasnim Qureshi and officials from Foreign and Interior Ministry attended the meeting.

Briefing committee about the current state of case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui Special Secretary Foreign Office while briefing the committee said that the US court had established seven charges against Dr Aafia Siddiqui and she could be awarded with 30 years imprisonment in case allegations would be proved.

“Dr Aafia was advised to issue statements before the court through lawyer, but she refused and issued statement different from her lawyer”, Foreign Office representatives told the committee adding the hearing of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case had been adjourned by June on the appeal of her mother. He said that under the American law no prisoner could appeal for mercy to President without completing half of sentence. On this the Chairman remarked that there were nine examples that the US President pardoned sentences of prisoners and sent them to their native countries.

Foreign Office representatives apprised the committee that no extradition of prisoners’ treaty was intact between Pakistan and the US and it would take a long time to get Dr. Aafia Siddiqui repatriated under the International laws and conventions.

Committee asked Foreign Ministry to direct Pakistani embassies and missions to cooperate with overseas Pakistanis to resolve their issues and problems.

The Senate body expressed serious concerns over the absence of Chief Commissioner Islamabad from the meeting and asked Interior Ministry to ensure his presence in the committee in the next meeting. Committee constituted a sub committee to visit different blocked streets and roads by foreign missions in the name of security situated in residential areas in the federal capital.

Minister of State on Interior expressed his ignorance about reported detention of four people from the federal capital on alleged connection with Faisal Shahzad the accused NY-T Square failed bomb plotter. The committee showed utmost displeasure and asked him to come before the committee well informed. Committee directed Foreign Office officials to avoid issuing irrational statements about Saif Rehman detained in Chile.