Pakistan rejects proposal to Swap Dr. Aafia Siddiqui for Shakil Afridi

ISLAMABAD: The federal government informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) of its stance on the proposal to release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in exchange for handing over Shakil Afridi.

Reports indicate that the Pakistani government rejected the possibility of exchanging Dr. Aafia Siddiqui for Shakil Afridi, stating that the proposal was not feasible.

Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan presided over the hearing on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release and return to Pakistan.

Additional Attorney General Manzoor Iqbal Dogal told the court that exchanging Dr. Aafia’s release for Shakil Afridi’s handover was not practical.

Dr. Aafia’s U.S. lawyer, Clive Smith, proposed this suggestion.

The Additional Attorney General raised concerns about specific points in the petition filed in the U.S. regarding Dr. Aafia’s case.

Justice Sardar Ijaz expressed surprise over the government’s change in stance on the petition.

The court instructed the government to address objections related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release next week.

Justice Sardar Ijaz ordered the Additional Attorney General to consult with the government and clarify the objections in the petition.

The Additional Attorney General clarified that Pakistan and the U.S. have no agreement on prisoner exchange and that both Shakil Afridi and Dr. Aafia Siddiqui are Pakistani citizens.

Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan asked why the U.S. considers Shakil Afridi important. The court learned that Shakil Afridi has been convicted, and his appeal remains pending in the Peshawar High Court.

Fouzia Siddiqui’s lawyer stated that authorities accuse Shakil Afridi of espionage and assisting others.

The Additional Attorney General stated that the government submitted a reply on February 19, mentioning that President Biden rejected the request but did not respond to the letter.

Justice Sardar Ijaz questioned the diplomatic norms followed when one country writes to another, noting that the White House did not even acknowledge the letter.

The court directed the Additional Attorney General to consult the government and submit a response by next Friday. The hearing will resume on that day.