Judgement in Dr Aafia case reserved

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday reserved its verdict in a petition filed against the release of $2 million to three American lawyers for defending Dr Aafia Siddiqui in the US.

The petition was filed by Barrister Iqbal Jafree, counsel of Dr Aafia, challenging the allocation of $2 million (Rs 170million) by the government for fighting the case of Aafia in America and feared that public money would go to the pockets of some people and the needful would remain unachievable. He said the government had laid aside such hefty amount for fighting the case while it did not bother to write to the ICJ while spending a small amount. He prayed to the court to restrain the spending of the said amount on fighting the case in the US.

Jafree argued that the LHC on August 12 had restrained the federal government from releasing the said amount to the American lawyers but the government, in violation of the court orders, had released the amount. He requested the court to initiate proceedings against the ministries of interior and foreign affairs under contempt charges.

SOURCE: draafia.org