August 10, 2008	Sunday	Sha’aban 7, 1429

NEW YORK, Aug 9: Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist who is being held without bail in New York, has said that she is innocent of the charges made against her by the US authorities, expressing a hope that she will be acquitted following her trial.

Aafia Siddiqui is charged with attempting to kill FBI agents and other US personnel last month in Afghanistan while in US custody.

She told Pakistan’s acting consul general, Saqib Rauf, and Faqir Saeed, a counsellor at the embassy in Washington: “I am confident if there is any justice I will be acquitted.”

The Pakistan embassy officials and Ms Siddiqi’s defence attorney, Gideon Oliver, stayed with her for over two hours, inquiring after her and assuring her of all help. She is being held at the Brooklyn detention centre since last Monday.

Mr Rauf told Dawn he was amazed to see how articulate and clearheaded she was under the circumstances. “She inquired after the health of her mother and the political conditions in Pakistan”, he added.

Mr Rauf said that on the advice of her defence attorney, she could not give details about the whereabouts of her children nor describe her travails while in US custody in Afghanistan.

“But she said that she was surprised at the charges against her and denied them and expected to be exonerated when she has her day in court”, Rauf told Dawn.