Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's mother passes away

KARACHI: Asmat Siddiqui, the mother of a Pakistani woman jailed in United States Dr Aafia Siddiqui, passed away in Karachi on Saturday, ARY NEWS reported.

Pasban e Pakistan President Altaf Shakoor has confirmed the death of the mother of Dr Aaafia and Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui. The timing of the funeral will be announced by the family later.

https://twitter.com/NKMalazai/status/1543155481161654273

Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the family of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving a jail term in US, in acquiring the United States (US) visa.

Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years imprisonment by a US court for allegedly shooting at US Army and FBI officers while in custody in Afghanistan.

The court, in its written verdict, also ordered the foreign office to take measures to ensure the safety of Dr Aafia’s family during their visit to the United States. “The foreign office must ensure the safety of Dr Aafia’s family during their visit to United States,” the verdict read.

Petitioner Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of the inmate, demanded in the High Court that the government take measures to ensure a meeting between Dr Aafia and her family in the US prison.