Doctor Aafia meet her sister after 20 years
TEXAS: Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national in US custody, met her sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui after almost 20 years.
The sisters met at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the two sisters remained separated by a glass partition. Dr Aafia Siddiqui informed her sister about her treatment by the US authorities.
Dr Fauzia shared details of Dr Aafia’s children with her, but was not allowed by the US authorities to show her their pictures.
Now an adult, at the time of Dr Aafia’s arrest, her son was six months old, whereas her daughter has now become a doctor.
Dr Fauzia, Senator Mushtaq, and Clive Smith, the American lawyer representing Dr Aafia, who are advocating for her release, plan to meet with Dr Aafia today to discuss additional steps towards securing her release.
Dr Aafia is currently undergoing treatment in a federal medical prison in the state of Texas, where women prisoners are provided with special medical and mental health facilities.
Federal Court:
The Pakistani national is currently serving an 86-year sentence in the US, following her conviction by a federal court in New York in 2010 on attempted murder and other charges.
On May 8, someone informed the Islamabad High Court that Dr Fauzia Siddiqui had granted a US visa, which will allow her to meet with her incarcerated sister in the US.
During a hearing concerning the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogar informed the court about the development.
The government has directed by the court to arrange an independent psychiatric evaluation for Dr Aafia Siddiqui, share all documents and information relate to her case with her lawyer Clive Smith, and ensure that such information not used for any other purpose beyond the scope of the case.
Published in the Logical Baat, May 31, 2023.
