ISLAMABAD: Leader of the House of Representatives Ishaq Dar on Thursday announced plans to resume cooperation with the United States government in an effort to secure the return of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national currently in US custody.
Speaking during the Senate session, Dar emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing efforts to repatriate Siddiqui to her homeland. Recounting past attempts, Dar lamented the lack of progress despite extensive engagement during his government’s tenure in 2013.
“In 2013, we engaged with US officials and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally appealed in the Oval Office of the White House,” Dar noted, expressing regret over the outcome of those efforts.
Highlighting his personal involvement, Dar said: “I have had three detailed meetings with Antony Blinken where I have tirelessly advocated for the return of our compatriot to Pakistan, but unfortunately no progress has been made.”
He said the issue would be a priority agenda for the new cabinet and every effort would be made to re-engage the US administration on the issue.
Dar said her sentence could also be served in Pakistan and the US administration would be asked to transfer her to Pakistan.
Dar turned to his colleagues for support and advice and sought Senator Mushtaq Ahmad’s opinion on the matter. Ahmad revealed that he proposed four policy options regarding Siddiqui’s repatriation after his return from a recent visit to the United States.
“I intend to submit a letter containing these four policy options to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar,” revealed Ahmad, stressing the urgency of finding a solution to the matter.
