HYDERABAD, Aug 11: The Women Wing of Jamaat-i-Islami protested against the handing over of Dr Aafia Siddiqui to the US authorities, outside the press club here on Monday.

Sindh JI, General Secretary, Rashid Naseem said the Independence Day was being celebrated at a time when hundreds of Pakistanis, including Dr Aafia were in the custody of American imperialism and being tortured.

“These Pakistanis were sold to America by General Musharraf and his cronies,” alleged Mr Naseem. He questioned the nationalists of

Sindh as to how they could forget Dr Aafia, and the NGOs championing the rights of women, the PML-Q, the PPP, the ANP and the MQM.

Mr Naseem wondered as to what was her crime that Dr Aafia was being tortured by Americans as a prisoner for last five years.

He said she was not educated in a seminary but in America and as such those spreading venom against religious schools should think twice and instead condemn American agents.

President Musharraf’s greatest crime among others was the deal of Dr Aafia Siddiqui against the greenback, he said and added: “Parties supporting Mushar-raf were equally guilty.”

Moulana Abdul Waheed Qureshi and Dr Fawad Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Scores of Citizens Action Committee activists staged a protest demonstration at Clock Tower against the arrest and torture of Dr Aafia by the US administration.

Protestors carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the US and Pakistan governments.