RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Dr Fauzia Siddiqui has demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down if he does not play his role for release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US prison.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Sunday, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said that Senate of Pakistan, National Assembly and different provincial assemblies had adopted resolutions for release of Dr Aafia but even then federal government failed to write a letter to former US president Obama.

“Government should take effective steps to ensure release of Dr Aafia by March 30 otherwise a long march in Islamabad will be organized in consultation with different political parties, civil society organizations,” she announced.

Flanked by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Amin-ul-Haq, Pasban chief Hafiz Shakoor and Nawaz Mehmood, Dr Fauzia said that the imprisonment of Dr Aafia was a matter of honour for the entire nation and thus government should take firm decision to get her released at the earliest.

“It is not a matter of a particular political party to raise voice but it relates to honour of Pakistan but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has turned a deaf ear towards the issue,” she lamented. She said that before coming into powers Nawaz Sharif in a meeting with her mother had promised to ensure release of Dr Aafia but failed to materialize his commitment so far.

She lamented that the rulers were busy accumulating wealth at all means but they were least bother to play role for securing rights of the citizens.

Earlier, scores of people belonging to different walks of life held a demonstration outside the press club for release of Dr Aafia. The people had arrived in Peshawar after march from Lakki Marwat to Peshawar to highlight the issue and sensitize people for raising forceful voice in support of Dr Aafia.