News
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Pakistan seeks repatriation of Dr AafiaStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday sent a letter to the US attorney general’s office for the repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
He said that Dr Aafia’s case had become a matter of great public concern and her repatriation would create a good image of the US in Pakistan.
Malik said that there was also a human angle to this living episode, as two of her children had been living in a constant state of uncertainty, which is having a telling effect on their health. The minister further stated that Dr Aafia could be deported to Pakistan under the UN Convention for exchange/repatriation of prisoners on humanitarian grounds.
He said that in view of the above-mentioned issues, he would appreciate if the AG personally looked into the matter and used his office to repatriate Dr Aafia to Pakistan.
He said that reportedly there had been over 90 precedent cases in the legal history of the US, where cases against such individuals were dropped on humanitarian/political grounds under the UN Convention for deportation of prisoners. As directed by PM Yousaf Raza Gilani, Malik also spoke to Dr Aafia’s mother and briefed her about the actions taken.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk