LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the release of Pakistani national Dr Aafia Siddiqui, detained in a prison in the United States for her alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

The court rejected the plea with the observation that the petitioner should have filed an appeal instead of a petition as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already decided this case in a petition.

The petitioner, Barrister Iqbal Jaffri, through this application, had stated that an agreement between Pakistan and the United States exists according to which both the countries can approach the ICJ to settle any issue.

He stated that the Pakistan government had paid heavy amounts to American lawyers to pursue the case of Aafia Siddiqui in American courts, adding that it would be fruitless for her release from US detention.

While dismissing the petition, LHC also observed that the IHC has already given the decision that the aforementioned agreement could not be implemented in this case.