The real injustice in Pakistan isn't the conviction of Aafia Siddiqui
By Saba Imtiaz, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010 - 12:43 PM
Share
It was bound to create controversy and outrage in a country fixated with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The sentencing of the Pakistani neuroscientist -- dubbed the ‘Grey Lady of Bagram,' the ‘daughter of Pakistan' and ‘Prisoner 650' by her supporters -- in a New York court on Thursday has riled many in Pakistan, including the government that had campaigned for her release.
But other than the typical and expected anti-U.S. comments made by Aafia Siddiqui's supporters, anger was directed at the Pakistani government. On Thursday night, Siddiqui's sister Fauzia addressed a press conference minutes after the ruling (86 years imprisonment on seven counts) and said it was a "slap on the face of our rulers and every leader of the Muslim world" and that she had been reassured by government officials that Aafia would be repatriated. She accused the Pakistani government of "selling Aafia out repeatedly."
It is an ironic state of affairs. The Pakistani government, which had reportedly paid $2 million for Siddiqui's legal defense, made her into a folk hero of sorts and regularly communicated with her family, is now taking the heat. Politicians appeared instantly on television channels to denounce the government for not acting in time to ‘save the daughter of Pakistan.' Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told Pakistan's upper house of parliament that the government was trying to initiate an extradition treaty for Aafia Siddiqui's release. "We did not spare any effort," Gilani claimed, and said "Dr. Aafia is the daughter of the nation. We fought for her and we will fight politically to bring her back."
Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani said in an e-mail interview, "We have made sincere efforts to help her legally and diplomatically and will continue to do so. We understand Fauzia Siddiqui's grief but it is sheer fantasy to believe that Aafia's imprisonment is because of the Pakistani government's inaction or that the Pakistani government could somehow spring her from prison in the U.S. In over two years since her reported arrest in Ghazni, the government of Pakistan has sought but not received evidence from those issuing statements on her behalf that could disprove the U.S. government's version of events."
Fauzia Siddiqui said in an interview with Dawn News that she had been fooled by Amb. Haqqani and alleged that he had told her he privately met with the judge presiding over the case.
Aafia's comments before her sentencing were a mix of confusion and conspiracies. According to Al Jazeera English, "She disputed her lawyer's claim that she is mentally unfit to stay on trial, then went on to talk about her dreams and the symbolism of her dreams, genetic testing, her belief that Israel is behind the attacks of September 11, 2001, and that Israel was plotting with her prison warden to attack the United States." She claimed she was not being mistreated and appealed to her supporters to not turn to violence. Fauzia repeated Aafia's call for calm, but also said that she had been forced to make a statement saying she was not mistreated and invoked gory visions. "Have you forgotten the hearings when she would appear covered in blood, her face would be swollen and (her body) would bear marks of being hit by rifles?"
And so the sentencing was used -- as most volatile incidents are -- to stage public protests countrywide.
Members of civil society and the religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Jamiat Talaba clashed with the police in Karachi and Islamabad. Their aim was to protest outside the U.S. consulate and embassy in the respective cities. On Thursday night, protestors in Peshawar burned tires and stomped on posters of former U.S. President George W. Bush.
Political parties rarely call for protests after suicide bombings, but the Jamaat-e-Islami called for countrywide protests shortly after Aafia's sentencing. Breathless condemnations of the sentencing came in almost instantly from political parties. A high-level meeting was chaired by Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday evening to form a committee on Aafia's repatriation.
While Pakistani leaders have often been accused of dragging their feet on the issues that matter -- be it condemning terrorist acts, clamping down on militant activities or ensuring transparent flood relief efforts -- Aafia Siddiqui's sentencing has kick started everyone into action.
The millions displaced by the floods in Pakistan, thousands languishing in jail awaiting trial and the countless women who are victims of honor killings, mistreatment in jails and discrimination will not see anyone rallying for their cause. Not acting swiftly to help them -- who should also be dubbed daughters of Pakistan and supported by politicians -- is the real injustice. Instead, the focus continues to be on the woman with the explosive purse, an illustrious past, a dubious story and now, an 86-year sentence.
Saba Imtiaz works for The Express Tribune, an English-language newspaper in Pakistan.
BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images
EXPLORE:AFPAK, AFGHANISTAN, AFPAK CHANNEL, AL QAEDA, CORRUPTION, DISASTERS, DRUGS & CRIME, INTELLIGENCE, PAKISTAN, TALIBAN, TERRORISM 
Pakistan, beset with poor governance, economy, recent floods and immature democracy, is struggling. It appears it is high noon for Pakistan, but as usual, Pakistanis being Pakistanis are acting in an emotional way because Islam never taught rational thinking. Only histrionics,
Hello! I am a Pakistani Muslim , living in USA for more then two decades working as a professional earing more than 80 % more than average Americans. I think I know Pakistan and USA well.
The verdict against A .F must have some merit: After all what does the U.S have to gain from a case against A.F.
The rallies will end in 3 or 4 days because it is a tradition in India-Pakistan to burn tires , wail and cry and go back to work and finally forget. Most of the demonstrators do not even know the real issue.
Afiya's sister, F.is making political statements , with the usual appeal to guilt as well as attacks on the current weak and transient government..
To me, F. and her mother appear to be superficial and wanting to politicize the issue.
A.F in my view is mentally ill and was carries away by the extremist traits of Islam.
Mujhaid Khan
You are not emancipated yet, born in pakistan and will die with a pakistani mind. where is the need in your write up to include INIDA? when have indians demonstrated against this case or any other us judicial sentence? i cannot anything else except pity your mindset and commend the Pakistani Army for brainwashing you so thoroughly that even after 20 years you are infected with sick mentality.
Pakistan: where the mentally ill are national heroes?
I'm still struggling to understand what is supposed to be appealing about this woman's story
Maybe I shouldn't try so hard.
While Saba Imtiaz may see ’injustice being done by Pakistani people blaming Pakistani government for conviction of Aafia Siddiqui’, Ms. Imtiaz is forgetting so many of Pakistani government’s actions (by both - military as well as civilian variety) that could have really offended American people if it were not for American government whitewashing Pakistani governments’ records.
US governments have consistently varnished Pakistani governments’ role in originating and continuing the ’terrorist’ threat to the world.
Nobody forced it but Pakistan’s democratic government of Benazir Bhutto chose of its own free will, to facilitate relocation of Osama bin Laden from Sudan to Afghanistan in 1996.
Sandy Berger, Clinton’s national security advisor told 9/11 Commission in 2004 that Pakistani Army was the ‘midwife’ of Taliban. UN report on Bhutto killing published in April, 2010 confirmed this fact when it stated that ‘Pakistani Army organized Taliban movement and installed Taliban government in Afghanistan in 1996.’
Nobody forced it but Pakistani Army and ISI created what ex-CIA official Bruce Reidel called 'this jihadist Frankenstein monster' on their own with full financing provided by Pakistan’s democratic governments during 1990s.
Pakistani ISI Director General Mahmud Ahmad had asked Omar Sheikh (the kidnapper of Daniel Pearl) to send $100,000 from a Dubai bank account to Mohammed Atta (the lead 9/11 hijacker) one year before those attacks. Mohammad Atta used that $100,000 for flight training, living expenses and to purchase flight tickets on the day of 9/11 attacks in US and returned unspent $25,000 back to same Dubai account. Musharraf was forced to retire ISI director General Mahmud Ahmad after Wall Street Journal exposed General Ahmad as the chief financier of 9/11 attacks. Pakistani ISI was heavily involved in planning of 9/11 attacks as corroborated by former Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Bob Graham.
Declassified DIA Washington D.C., "IIR (intelligence Information Report) Pakistan Involvement in Afghanistan," dated November 7, 1996 states how "Pakistan's ISI is heavily involved in Afghanistan," and also details different roles various ISI officers play in Afghanistan. Stating that Pakistan uses sizable numbers of its Pashtun-based Frontier Corps in Taliban-run operations in Afghanistan, the document clarifies that, "these Frontier Corps elements are utilized in command and control; training; and when necessary combat“.
Declassified U.S. Department of State, Cable "Pakistan Support for Taliban" from Islamabad dated Sept. 26, 2000 states that "while Pakistani support for the Taliban has been long-standing, the magnitude of recent support is unprecedented." In response Washington orders the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to immediately confront Pakistani officials on the issue and to advise Islamabad that the U.S. has "seen reports that Pakistan is providing the Taliban with materiel, fuel, funding, technical assistance and military advisors. [The Department] also understand[s] that large numbers of Pakistani nationals have recently moved into Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban, apparently with the tacit acquiescence of the Pakistani government." Additional reports indicate that direct Pakistani involvement in Taliban military operations has increased.
y afia should not have sympathy around the world.......
@anjum khan, dont behave like ..... a dog more loyal than its owner.....
y afia should not have sympathizers around the world......... as she was arrested on 30 Mar 2003 with 3 small innocent kids on her way to islamabad along with her 3 children.( confirmed by pak minister, press and US officials on 1 April 2003, see wikipedia details.)
one of the baby was killed in prison, another kid released in 2008 after 5 years detention in notorious bagram prison and another kid dropped outside her aunt house in karachi in 2009. Does any religion or law of the land warrant killing and imprisonment of innocent kids if even we believe her mother was guilty?
she was charged of firing on her captors while in prison. whereas she was fired,received bullet injury, tortured and reportedly raped in prison. a women kidnapped along with her children, not allowed a fair trail, not allowed the lawyer of own choice, tried by a jury to which she objected. what a justice ....... a women having blame of attempt of murder sentenced to 86 years prison while the 1 who shot her, raped and tortured her and many other prisoners in bagram base are free coz....... they r citizens of a super power and a mighty land, yes might is right.....
May/June 2013
-
Profile
-
FP Power Map
-
Think Again
(5)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE