KARACHI: The US envoy to Islamabad has promised to look into Pakistan’s request that the human and legal rights of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui are requested, foreign office spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal told Arab News.
Siddiqui, 46, was convicted in 2010 of seven counts of attempted murder and assault of US personnel in Afghanistan. She is serving an 86-year jail term at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Earlier, the foreign office in a statement issued on Wednesday said that the Government of Pakistan has been raising the issue of Siddiqui with US authorities regularly.
“Pakistan’s CG in Houston pays consular visits to Dr. Siddiqui, periodically, to inquire about her wellbeing and conveys her messages to Dr. Aafia’s family,” read the statement, adding that the issue of respecting Siqqiqui’s human and legal rights was also raised in the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Ambassador Alice Wells on Nov. 6. “The US side has promised to look into our request,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the foreign minister will soon meet Siddiqui’s sister in Islamabad.
Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Aafia’s sister, confirmed to Arab News that she has received a call from the foreign office about a meeting.
“The agenda and date has not been shared yet. I got a call from a foreign office official who told me that I will be summoned for a meeting next week,” she told Arab News.
Dr. Siddiqui, during a consular visit to her by Aisha Farooqui, the Pakistan’s consul general in Houston on Oct. 9, had requested that her message was sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In the message, seen by Arab News, Dr. Siddiqui said that she wanted to get out of prison because her imprisonment in the US was illegal as she was kidnapped and taken to the US. “Imran Khan had supported me in the past also. I have always considered him one of my biggest heroes,” read the message Farooqui sent to Islamabad.
Siddiqui’s sister argued that through the “Transfer Of Offenders Ordinance-2002,” the Government of Pakistan may transfer Aafia to a Pakistani jail. “The least we have been demanding is not to free Aafia but to transfer her to a prison in Pakistan for completing the remaining term in her country,” she said.
On May 23 earlier this year, Pakistan’s consul-general in Houston met Dr. Siddiqui, who complained about physical and sexual abuse by prison staff.
“She was constantly disturbed in her room and her privacy was consistently violated by jail staff who harassed her, threatened her and attempted to sexually abuse her on a number of occasions,” Farooqui wrote in her report, a copy of which was leaked to Arab News.
Siddiqui’s sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, had told Arab News: “The leaking of this report will jeopardize Aafia’s life further as the prison guards will turn more vengeful.
“No words can describe the pain this report has inflicted on our hearts. No words can describe our agony.”
Farooqui said Siddiqui had claimed that staff “barged into her room, confiscated her belongings, made fun of her and even snatched her scarf off her head.”
The consul-general had recommended Islamabad seek a US Department of Justice inquiry into Siddiqui’s claims.
US promises to look into Aafia Siddiqui’s case, says Pakistan
US promises to look into Aafia Siddiqui’s case, says Pakistan
- The US envoy to Islamabad has promised to look at the request for rights of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, foreign office spokesman has told Arab News.
- Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, sister of Aafia, said she will be summoned for a meeting next week on her sister’s case.
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
