KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded that the government ensure early release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is incarcerating in a United States prison over baseless charges.

According to a JI press release, Dr Aafia Siddiqui was reportedly arrested and handed over to US authorities in Karachi during the era of general Musharaf’s dictatorship. Later, the US authorities ‘showed’ her along with one of her children in Afghanistan and she was sentenced to 86 years in jail after a shady trial.

It is pertinent to mention here that Dr Aafia, along with her children, was on her way to the airport, when she was reportedly intercepted by authorities. Later, two of her children were handed over to their maternal aunt Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, whereas the third one, a minor, was declared dead.

The JI chief visited Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui at her residence on the first day of Eidul Azha.

Speaking on the occasion, the JI chief said that unfortunately Dr Aafia had been languishing in the jail for the last 21 years despite the fact that she was declared as the daughter of the nation by the then prime minister on the floor of the assembly.

He condemned former president Pervez Musharraf, who had ordered the arrest of Dr Aafia for a “few dollars” and held him responsible for “converting a nuclear power country into a colony of the US”.

The JI leader urged the prime minister to play his role in repatriation of Dr Aafia and offered the cooperation on part of his party in this regard.

Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, on the occasion, thanked Naeemur Rehman for his unconditional support.

She shed light in detail on the physical and mental health of Dr Aafia. She said Dr Aafia had been subjected to torture and agony in the US jail.

She appealed to the government to take steps in order to get Dr Aafia released from the US jail.

‘People suffer due to loadshedding, water shortage on Eid’

JI-Karachi chief Munem Zafar questioned the role of the mayor, saying that the people of Karachi suffered from loadshedding, shortage of water amid harsh weather conditions even on Eid days.

The JI city leader expressed these views while talking to journalists during his visits to several areas of Karachi on the Eid days.

He claimed that the mayor became hyperactive when it came to giving any favour to the KE in monetary terms.

He raised the question as to why the KE resorted to loadshedding in several areas of the city even on Eid days.

Mr Zafar asked the authorities to ensure uninterrupted water and electric supply to Karachiites.

Speaking on the occasion, he claimed that nine towns in Karachi being run by the JI performed way batter as compared to the rest of town in the city.

He said apart from the governmental machinery, a large number of JI and Alkhidmat volunteers also played their role to serve Karachiites.

He said that the JI had dedicated this Eidul Azha to Gaza, Palestine. He added that Alkhidmat facilitated Karachiites across the city for their sacrifice and apart from it, the organisation slaughtered 1,800 sacrificial animals for the people of Gaza.

The tin-packed cooked meals will be supplied to Gaza, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024