The Pakistani government has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that a proposed prisoner exchange involving Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Dr Shakil Afridi is not a viable option.
During a hearing on Dr Siddiqui’s release and repatriation, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan presided over proceedings where Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Duggal stated that the government does not support the exchange proposal put forward by Siddiqui’s US attorney, Clive Smith.
The government has also withdrawn its support for Siddiqui’s petition in a US court, citing reservations about certain aspects of the petition’s draft.
This shift in stance surprised the court, prompting Justice Khan to seek further clarification from the government.
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The IHC has now directed the AAG to explain the government’s objections to Siddiqui’s petition in the US court by next week.
AAG Duggal reiterated that both Shakil Afridi and Aafia Siddiqui are Pakistani citizens and that no formal prisoner exchange agreement exists between Pakistan and the United States.
Justice Khan questioned why Shakil Afridi holds such significance for the US, asking whether his case is being treated as a “status case.”
Legal assistant Zainab Janjua responded by noting that Afridi has been convicted, and his appeal remains pending in the Peshawar High Court.
Imran Shafiq, a lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui’s sister, Fauzia Siddiqui, highlighted that Afridi faces espionage and collaboration charges.
The AAG added that Pakistan had submitted its response on the matter on February 19, noting that while former US President Joe Biden rejected an appeal for Aafia Siddiqui’s release, the White House did not formally acknowledge Pakistan’s diplomatic letter.
Justice Khan expressed concern over the lack of response from Washington, questioning the diplomatic protocols involved.
The court has given the government until next Friday to provide a detailed reply to its objections to Aafia Siddiqui’s US court petition.
Earlier, on February 7, the IHC sought a government response regarding a potential prisoner swap between Aafia Siddiqui and Shakil Afridi. Clive Smith had submitted a fresh declaration, arguing that such an exchange could facilitate Aafia Siddiqui’s return to Pakistan.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, has been serving an 86-year sentence in the United States since 2010 for allegedly attempting to kill US personnel in Afghanistan.
Dr Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor, was arrested for allegedly assisting the CIA in locating Osama bin Laden in 2011.
He is currently imprisoned in Pakistan on charges of aiding a banned militant group. The US has repeatedly called for his release.
