November 05, 2008	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 6, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 4: The anguish in Dr Fauzia Siddiqi’s voice was obvious as she talked about her sister, Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is under trial in the US for allegedly helping Al Qaeda supporters.

Speaking at a seminar titled, “In support of Aafia Siddiqui and other missing persons”, organized by the women wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Karachi chapter, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said on Monday that after seeing the photos of Aafia Siddiqui and what had been done to her, not many people had come out and reacted against the atrocities she has gone through.

She questioned what kind of people the Pakistanis had become. “Where is Mohammad Bin Qasim and people like him to help her in her time of need? What has happened to our patriotism? My sister is not a terrorist, she is a caring person who loves her children. What is her crime to be going through this terrible torture?”

Overcome with emotion, Dr Siddiqui further stated that her sister’s condition was similar to the condition of this country which was witnessing earthquakes and other severe problems. The incharge of JI’s women’s political cell, former senator Ayesha Munnawar, said that people should not be imprisoned without evidence.

It was the responsibility of the government to get Aafia Siddiqui, who was kidnapped by agencies and handed over to the US, released as soon as possible, she claimed.

She added that former president Pervez Musharraf, had written in his book that his government had handed over people who were thought to be terrorists, to the American government. The present government was following the same policy, she said.

“Only the government has the power to get these missing people released. The judiciary has not been able to help either. Everyone is affected in one way or the other due to the political situation. Thousands of people are missing and we must all raise our voice to get them released,” she said at the end of her speech.

Durdana Siddiqi, the nazima of JI’s Karachi chapter, said that the nation was going through a very bad time. Now was the time to realise what could be done to save it, she said.

“We should all be doing what we can in our capacity and we must work as much as possible to change ourselves and be positive,” she added.