News
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Too early to predict Aafia’s future, says Patterson
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson said on Monday that it would be too early to discuss the future of Dr Aafia Siddiqui as the case was still in the court, a statement said on Monday.
“Dr Siddiqui has not yet been sentenced and also has the right to appeal her conviction — so the US legal process is not yet concluded,” the US ambassador said during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Salman Bashir.
She urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the process of issuing travel documents to Pakistani nationals awaiting deportation in the United States. She said that about 300 Pakistanis in the US were unable to return home because the Pakistan government had not issued them travel documents or passports.
Patterson said most of those people were facing legal action and deportation orders for residing in the US illegally, urging the ministry to allow them to return home and rejoin their families.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk