Pakistan rules out swapping Shakeel Afridi for Aafia Siddiqui’s release

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the proposal to swap Shakeel Afridi for Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s release was not workable.

When IHC judge Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the repatriation case of Aafia Siddiqui, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Duggal, representing the federal government, told the court that the proposal to exchange was not workable.

He told the court that Clive Smith, Aafia Siddiqui’s US-based attorney, had put forth the proposal.

During the proceedings, the AAG argued that Pakistan has reservations on certain points in the draft petition filed in the US court for Aafia Siddiqui’s release.

Justice Ejaz Ishaq remarked that the court was surprised by the government’s statement withdrawing support for Aafia Siddiqui’s petition in the US court.

The IHC directed the AAG to consult the government and clarify what objections had been raised against Aafia Siddiqui’s petition filed in the US. The court asked for a reply by next Friday.

The AAG further said that both Shakeel Afridi and Aafia Siddiqui are Pakistani citizens, and Pakistan has no prisoner exchange agreement with the US.

Also read: Aafia Siddiqui case: court condemns US decision

Justice Ejaz Ishaq inquired why Shakeel Afridi was important to the US and what was the status of his case.

Judicial assistant Zainab Janjua told the court that Shakeel Afridi had been convicted, and his appeal was pending before the Peshawar High Court. Fauzia Siddiqui’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, said that Afridi was accused of espionage and aiding foreign entities.

The AAG also said that a reply on the matter was already submitted on February 19, while former US president Joe Biden had rejected the request, and the White House had not formally replied to the letter.

Justice Ejaz Ishaq remarked that not only the White House did not reply but it also did not even acknowledge the letter. He questioned the diplomatic norms in such situations, asking what protocol was followed when one country writes to another.

The IHC adjourned the hearing of the case until next Friday.