ISLAMABAD: The mother of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientistjailed in the US for almost a decade, has written an open letter to PrimeMinister Imran Khan urging him to help free her daughter from US captivity.
A US court sentenced Dr Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison in early 2010on charges of attempted murder and assault stemming from an incident withUS authorities in Afghanistan—charges she denied. She has since beenlanguishing in a US jail.
The open letter from Ismat Siddiqui, Dr Aafia’s mother, comes days beforePrime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled to visit the US and meet withPresident Donald Trump at the White House in Washington.
“Surely, I do not need to remind you of how I am suffering, as the unjustcaptivity of the daughter of Pakistan is indeed as near and dear to yourheart as mine. With due respect and a sad heart filled with new hope, Ihumbly request you to please help save my daughter Dr Aafia, whose name isnow synonymous with the dignity and honor of Pakistan,” writes grieving andailing mother in the letter, addressing the Pakistani prime minister as “mydear son”.
“Your visit to US and meeting with President Trump is a new ray of hope forPakistanis and myself that you will not only demand the release of yoursister Aafia but do so with a resolve only true leaders can,” she wrote.
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“My Son Imran Khan, need I remind you of our phone conversations? You are aray of hope in this bleak time of uncertainty. My son, I am sure you agreethat bringing Aafia back home is a singularly most important issue that notonly raises the status of every Pakistani, it shows the world that when itcomes to our honor and our daughters, we are no longer daughter sellers.Now Imran Khan is here to show we are a Nation of principle and dignity!”
“India will rise to highest levels for a terrorist just because he istheirs, America will take back Killers like Raymond Davis, why should wenot stand for our innocent daughter? Aafia killed no one, She stands forlove and peace, and regards you a great hero.
“Please, all I ask just allow a dying mother embrace her daughter andchildren reunite to pick up the pieces and have some closure.
