LAHORE – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) demanded an explanation behind the government’s decision not to become a party to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s legal case in the U.S. The matter was brought up after Dr. Aafia’s sister filed a petition in the High Court about her concerns for her sister’s deteriorating health and demanded efforts on behalf of her sister to bring her back from American detention after being convicted in February 2010.
The petition was taken up by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, who was attended by the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Imran Shafiq, the additional attorney general, and other relevant officials.
The additional attorney general revealed that the Pakistani government has decided not to offer any legal assistance to Dr. Aafia or join the case in the United States, to which the court questioned the basis of the government’s decision.
Justice Ishaq remarked that such important decisions were not to be made without any proper clarifications, as the court demands reasoning for decisions by the government and the Attorney General; any decisions without proper justification would not be tolerated.
The court directed the additional attorney general to present reasons behind the government’s stance at the next hearing. The case has been adjourned until Friday, July 4.
