Karachi: Renowned human rights attorney Clive Stafford Smith has returned to the United States following his visit to Pakistan, where he pressed for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Smith’s efforts in Pakistan involved urging the Pakistani government to expedite their formal communication to the U.S. to aid Siddiqui’s release.
According to Aafia Movement, Smith underscored the necessity of a government letter from Pakistan to the U.S. administration as critical to advancing Siddiqui’s case. He emphasized the role of the Pakistani government in securing her freedom, noting that such a letter is still pending.
The Islamabad High Court is set to hold a significant hearing on Siddiqui’s case on Friday, October 18. During the last session, the Attorney General of Pakistan indicated the government’s intention to file an application in conjunction with Clive Smith’s clemency motion.
Smith, already working on the case in the U.S., stated that the support from Islamabad is vital. He also called on Aafia Siddiqui’s supporters to write polite clemency letters to U.S. President Joe Biden. He expressed hope that the needed assistance from Islamabad for Siddiqui’s release would materialize soon, reaffirming that the key to her release lies within the capital city of Pakistan.