ISLAMABAD: The anticipated visit of a Pakistani delegation to the United States for discussions regarding the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui faces significant delays due to visa issuance complications.
According to Aafia Movement, Dr. Siddiqui’s lawyer, Imran Shafique, addressed the media following a court hearing related to Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui’s petition. Shafique explained that the delegation now needs a new category of visa, a process complicated by the delegation members’ passports being held at the embassy. He pointed to a lack of guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a contributing factor to the delays.
During the court session, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaque Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic obstacles that have repeatedly hindered progress. Despite these setbacks, there was a positive development, as the government indicated its willingness to cover the delegation’s visit expenses.
With only four days remaining, Shafique emphasized the need for urgent action from bureaucratic entities to secure the necessary visas, warning that failure to do so would render the current efforts ineffective.