Karachi: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted the government of Pakistan additional time to consult on whether to sign an amicus brief related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case in the United States. The decision came after the Additional Attorney General requested a delay to allow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to confer with the Attorney General of Pakistan.
The request for more time was made during a hearing led by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaque Khan, who is overseeing the constitutional petition filed by Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s sister, seeking her release.
Imran Shafique, the lawyer representing Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, reported that the Additional Attorney General stated before the court that MoFA needs to discuss whether the government should proceed with the amicus brief in the U.S. court. While the government sought a ten-day extension, the court granted a seven-day period, setting the next hearing for June 25.
Shafique highlighted that the Attorney General of Pakistan had previously assured the court of the government’s support for the amicus brief. However, the government’s recent shift in stance led to an application to dispose of the petition, claiming its objectives had been met.
In a previous session, the court reminded the government that the proposed amicus brief mirrors the position already expressed in a letter from the Prime Minister to the U.S. President concerning Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release.
Shafique expressed concerns that the government appears to be stalling, suggesting a lack of seriousness in resolving the issue. The matter is now set to continue at the upcoming hearing on June 25, 2025.