Swapping Dr Shakeel Afridi with Dr Aafia 'not workable'
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Friday that a proposal floated by the American lawyer of Dr Aafia Siddiqui for hand over of Shakeel Afridi to the US for release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui with was not workable, as there was no agreement between the two countries for exchange of prisoners.
Additional Attorney General Munawwar Iqbal Duggal also told the IHC that the government backed out from supporting a court petition in a US court for her release, citing reservations on some points included in the draft.
IHC Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the petition for the release and repatriation of Dr Siddiqui. During the hearing, the court asked about the case of Shakeel Afridi. The court was informed that Afridi was a convicted person, and his appeal was pending in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Duggal said that American lawyer Clive Smith's proposal for extraditing Afridi in exchange for the release of Dr Siddiqui was not workable. He added that both were Pakistan citizens and that there was no prisoner exchange treaty between Pakistan and the US.
Duggal also highlighted the government's reservations to an appeal filed in a US Court by Dr Siddiqui. The court expressed surprise at the government's withdrawal of support and gave the additional attorney general one week's time to inform it about the objections.
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