WASHINGTON: A clemency petition seeking the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year sentence in the United States, has been submitted to the White House. Advocates are urging President Joe Biden to grant her release before his term ends on Jan 20, sources in Washington confirmed to Dawn.
A Pakistani delegation, led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, recently visited the United States to advocate for Siddiqui’s release on humanitarian grounds. The group included Senator Talha Mehmood and psychiatrist Dr Iqbal Afridi.
Their efforts followed instructions from the Islamabad High Court to meet US lawmakers and officials as part of this initiative.
In Washington, the delegation held discussions with US lawmakers, including Congressman Jim McGovern, who chairs a House committee, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Karachi-born Democrat. They also met Elizabeth Horst, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia.
