LHC reserves verdict | Dr Aafia Siddiqui - The Prisoner 650

LAHORE – The Lahore High Court (LHC) has reserved its verdict in a petition filed against release of $ 2 million to three American lawyers for defending Dr Aafia Siddiqui in US courts, and taking her case to the International Court of Justice.

On Monday, Deputy Attorney General Naveed Inayat Malik told the court that the Federal government was making all out efforts from day one to bring Aafia back to Pakistan. “Government’s efforts are based on bona fide intentions and the release of funds to the American lawyers is part of those efforts.” He pointed out that it were government’s efforts that made the recovery of Aafia’s son possible.

Petitioner-counsel Iqbal Jafree said that Dr Aafia was found missing in 2003, but the government made no efforts for her search, and kept on sleeping for six long years. “It woke up only when it received a letter from Afghanistan.” He said that government should immediately take Aafia’s case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “because it would not be possible once the trial is commenced.” He pointed out that being a poor country there was no need of releasing such a huge amount to the American lawyers in a hasty manner. He said he would disclose the names of beneficiaries sometime later.

The petitioner has challenged the allocation of $ 2 million (Rs 170 million) by the government for fighting case of Aafia in America and feared that the hard earned money of the nation would go to the pockets of some people and the needful would remain unachievable. He said that the government laid aside such hefty amount for fighting the said case while it did not bother to write to the ICJ spending a small amount. He prayed to the court for restraining the spending of the said amount on fighting and moving the ICJ.

The LHC on August 12 last had restrained the Federal government from releasing the said amount to the US lawyers. But the government, ignoring the court orders, had released the amount. The petitioner, therefore, said the government in sheer violation of court’s orders released the said amount to the panel of three American lawyers.

He requested the court to initiate proceedings against the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs under contempt of court charges. The law officer, however, informed the court that the government had released $ 1.5 million before the court orders.

SOURCE: draafia.org