Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday explained his statement regarding Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case and said that his remarks were being taken out of context.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ishaq Dar said the government always provided support for the release of Dr Aafia.

“We are providing diplomatic and judicial support and will continue to provide support until her release. Our government’s position on the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s release is clear,” he added.

Ishaq Dar clarified that his reference to Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case during a question about Imran Khan at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington was misinterpreted and taken out of context.

The deputy prime minister further said that every country has its judicial and legal procedures that must be respected.

It should be noted that Ishaq Dar, in response to a question about Imran Khan’s imprisonment at the American think tank Atlantic Council in Washington, had said that if someone takes up arms against the state and does what was done on May 9, the law will take its course.

Dar had said that a fair legal process is currently underway in Pakistan.

“This case should not be given a political colour, just as Aafia Siddiqui has been imprisoned in the US for decades, and it is not known how long she will remain there. If your legal system has reached this conclusion, then it’s not appropriate to challenge it. The same legal principles apply to everyone.”