Pakistan is fully committed to providing Dr. Aafia Siddiqui with comprehensive legal and diplomatic assistance, reaffirmed Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday. The statement comes amid growing concerns and recent controversy surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s comments, which were later clarified.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Attaullah Tarar clarified that recent remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui were taken out of context. He emphasized that Senator Dar had already provided an explanation to clear up the misunderstanding.
Tarar also highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally met with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s sister, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, and formed a special committee dedicated to advancing Aafia’s case. The Information Minister stressed that no previous government had put forth such sustained efforts to advocate for Dr. Aafia’s release.
In addition to the efforts at the domestic level, Pakistan’s foreign minister had raised the issue during a visit to the US. While addressing questions about the ongoing legal challenges faced by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, he compared it to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s prolonged imprisonment in the United States. The foreign minister emphasized that Dr. Aafia’s case should not be seen as a failure of legal processes, highlighting that her detention had been part of a legitimate legal framework.
Minister Tarar also addressed other issues in the press briefing, including dismissing allegations that Ishaq Dar was part of the Sugar Advisory Board. He described these claims as baseless and in response to the legal developments surrounding cryptocurrency, he asserted that Pakistan had established a clear regulatory framework. Tarar criticized those who opposed Pakistan’s crypto regulations, suggesting some were echoing hostile stances from neighboring countries, including India.
Additionally, the minister pointed to Pakistan’s improving economic outlook, suggesting that certain critics were uncomfortable with the progress unless they were in control of the country’s financial leadership.
