ISLAMABAD: The federal government has declined to become a party or provide legal assistance in Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case in a U.S. court.
During a hearing at the Islamabad High Court on a petition regarding Dr. Siddiqui’s health and repatriation, Justice Sardar Ejaz heard arguments from petitioner’s lawyer Imran Shafiq, the Additional Attorney General and other officials.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the government had decided not to intervene in the U.S. proceedings. Justice Sardar Ejaz questioned the reasons behind this decision, asking: “What are the reasons? There are always reasons for such decisions. This is a constitutional court: you can’t just say ‘this is the decision’ without explaining why.”
The court directed the Additional Attorney General to present the reasons for the government’s decision at the next hearing, scheduled for July 4.
