ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a formal letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to pardon and release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Dr. Siddiqui has been imprisoned in the US since 2010, serving an 86-year sentence issued by the American District Court.
In his letter, PM Shehbaz highlighted his previous interactions with Biden, recalling their meetings in the US and Lahore. He referred to Biden as a long-time friend of Pakistan, mentioning his role in passing the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill 15 years ago.
Shehbaz’s appeal centers on the humanitarian aspect of the case. He noted that Dr. Siddiqui, currently held at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell, has already spent 16 years behind bars. Pakistani officials who visited her expressed deep concerns about her declining mental and physical health, with fears that she may take her own life due to her dire condition.
Emphasizing his responsibility as Prime Minister, Shehbaz urged Biden to use his constitutional authority to release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds. He concluded by stating that her family, along with millions of Pakistanis, are awaiting Biden’s compassionate intervention.
