August 12, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 9, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the National Assembly on Monday that the government’s was trying to help Dr Aafia Siddiqi, who was being tried in the United States, by seeking her repatriation.

He was replying to calls from members from both the ruling coalition and the opposition that the government seek repatriation of the woman, who had been missing along with her two children since 2003.

Pakistan Muslim League-N parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan raised the matter through a point of order and said the government should arrange legal aid for Dr Aafia otherwise assembly members would contribute for her defence.

Members from both sides of the house, including opposition leader Pervez Elahi, protested against the alleged mistreatment of Dr Aafia and most of them called for passing a joint resolution to reflect their sentiments.

But no resolution was moved after Mr Qureshi said the government wanted to repatriate her and two members of the Pakistan People’s Party said Islamabad was already doing the needful and one of them accused some political parties of trying to benefit from the case.