Chowrangi

Following is excerpted from media briefing on August 21, 2008 by Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In case of Dr. Afia Siddiqui, we have been sharing information with media as and when it was available since her deportation to the US from Afghanistan. As I said earlier, consular access was provided to the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington and a 2 ½ hours long meeting was held with Dr. Afia Siddiqui in the presence of her lawyer. Ambassador Hussain Haqqani in Washington is personally supervising the matter and has appointed a senior diplomat for liaison. An Embassy representative is present on each court hearing of Dr. Afia Siddiqui.

Assistance required by Dr. Afia Siddiqui is being provided. As she was wounded and unwell, we took up the matter of provision of appropriate medical treatment to her. Her other immediate requirements are also being met.

Every possible effort is being made to protect Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s rights as an under-trial prisoner. We are also committed to seek repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners including that of Dr. Afia Siddiqui to Pakistan. I would reiterate that being Pakistan national Dr. Afia Siddiqui has a claim on us for her protection and welfare. The Government of Pakistan will do everything possible to fulfill its responsibilities towards her.

A delegation of Parliamentarians from Pakistan will be visiting Dr. Afia Siddiqui. In this regard we are seeking consular access for the visiting Parliamentarians and other officials from Pakistan.

On our demand that the children of Dr. Afia Siddiqui be returned to Pakistan, we have been told by the US authorities that the children are not in US custody. We will continue to look for the children of Dr. Afia Siddiqui.

According to the family, there has been a lot of misinformation in the media about Dr. Afia Siddiqui. For example it has been reported, particularly by the Western media, that Dr. Afia Siddiqui is a Ph.D either in biosciences or neurology. The correct position is Dr. Afia Siddiqui is an educationist with a Ph.D from Brandeis University, Boston. She was an undergraduate student in MIT. Contrary to the impression created by this misinformation, her education in no way could have trained her for either chemical or biological warfare.

Another misinformation is regarding her nationality. She is neither a US national nor holds dual nationality. She is a Pakistan national.

Dr. Afia Siddiqui has three children, two sons age 11 and 5 and a daughter age 9.

Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s family is in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad and our Embassy in Washington. Sister of Dr. Afia Siddiqui, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui had also met Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The Foreign Minister had assured her of all possible assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Embassy in Washington.

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