Karachi (HRNW)- Noted Human Rights Attorney and lawyer in Dr Aafia Siddiqui case Clive Safford Smith has said that hurdle in Dr Aafia’s return appears to be in Pakistan.
Addressing lawyers here Tuesday at Karachi Bar Association (KBA) City Courts, he said that Aafia’s emotional trauma is worse than those in Guantanamo as is understandable. She has no idea why she is where she is and being a highly brilliant woman has her entire life being gradually sucked out of her, and all outside communication cut off, is like being trapped in an avalanche with no one to call.
He said she is a mother and taking away little children from a mother is the worst form of human coercion ever. Any woman would go stark raving mad just by losing her child, yet Aafia is hanging in there.
Smith said he met with Aafia, he gave her hope, he told her people in Pakistan love her, she is the daughter of the nation and she should keep hope. Aafia expressed faith in the Pakistani people. I appeal to you not to let her down, he asked tge audience. “She is yours and you the keepers of justice, the defenders of constitutional rights need to unite and rise above to support our efforts.” Support the legal proceedings of her case. Help us in our struggle to get the federation stand up for Aafia’s rights as the constitution of your great nation has provided, he urged. He said he is here in Pakistan to work out some way to bring Aafia Siddiqui back home. He said it appears the hurdle in bringing Aafia home lays here in her own country. And together we need to identify and overcome the hurdle, he said.
Smith apologized for the mistakes his country has made and how the justice system is flawed in ways that enable mistakes like Aafia’s incarceration and Guantánamo bay to continue, though Bagram and Abu Gharaib have been shut down by efforts of humanitarian activists like you all. He said Aafia’s case is human at its core and universal in appeal.
KBA President Aamir Saleem in his address welcomed Clive Smith and appreciated his role for fighting case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He said Aafia is daughter of the nation and lawyers fully support that she should be repatriated back home as soon as possible. He demanded of the government to take the case of Dr Aafia seriously so that she is freed from the US prison without further loss of time.
Aafia Movement leader and noted neurophysician of the country Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that it is the most severe torture to a woman to snatch her children from her. She said three children were snatched from Dr Aafia and she has been in detention for last two decades. She lauded thru lawyers for their support to the cause of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and said that it is the demand of the whole nation that the innocent daughter, Aafia, should be freed immediately.
The lawyers present passed a resolution to start a movement that assists the federation in bringing Aafia home.