News Desk |
Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, on Wednesday called on Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari in Islamabad and discussed the ways to move ahead in bringing Dr. Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan, according to the statement released by the ministry.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted by a US federal court of two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and three counts of assault on US officers and employees. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison.
Since Dr. Mazari assumed office, there is renewed hope that government will try to find an amicable solution with U.S government; which will allow Dr. Aafia to be reunited with her family.
The minister during the meeting with Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui assured her that the government was trying its best to bring Dr. Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan.
Dr. Mazari said that she was well aware of the problems and anguish of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s family and assured Dr. Fauzia of her full support in their struggle for her sister’s release.
Dr. Shirin Mazari in 2010– about the verdict against Dr. Siddiqui– had said, “Did not really surprise anyone familiar with the vindictive mindset of the U.S. public post-9/11″.
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A New York court on Feb 3, 2010, had found Siddiqui guilty of attempting to shoot a team of American soldiers and FBI agents in an Afghan police station by grabbing the US soldier’s firearm in July 2008.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who received her graduation degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University in biology and neuroscience while living in the US between 1991 and June 2002, denied grabbing the weapon or having any familiarity with firearms.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui had denounced the trial and said an appeal would be “a waste of time. I appeal to God.”
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Since Dr. Mazari assumed office, there is renewed hope that government will try to find an amicable solution with U.S government; which will allow Dr. Aafia to be reunited with her family.