Speaking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Dr Maria Douglas, a spokesperson for Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas where Dr Siddiqui is serving her prison sentence, vehemently denied rumours and said that it was absolutely false that Dr Siddiqui had passed away, adding that no medical emergency has arisen.

Earlier, text messages were circulating in Pakistan claiming that Dr Siddiqui had passed away at the prison facility.

Dr Siddiqui, a neuroscientist by profession and a graduate of MIT, allegedly went missing for five years before she was discovered in Afghanistan. The prosecution says that she tried to fire on a US soldier during her interrogation. She has also been accused of working for al Qaeda.

Her family disputes the US version of this account. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison in 2010 by a New York court.

A statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan said that they and the Pakistani Consulate General in Texas are in regular contact with the FMC Carswell authorities regarding Dr Aafia Siddiqui. “At our query, the prison authorities confirmed today that Dr Siddiqui was quite well. She is also in regular telephone contact with her family and, according to the authorities, last telephoned her family on 19 June 2012.”

“An officer from the Pakistan Consulate General in Houston visits Dr Siddiqui at the FMC prison regularly. The last such visit took place in April 2012. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s brother has also visited her in prison,” said the press release.

Via: Express Tribune

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I would like to say that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a victim, not a criminal. She was abducted from Karachi, Pakistan, and is being accused for something in Afghanistan. Rather, this is a matter to be investigated in itself. Moreover, the accusation of Afghanistan is an invalid case. How can one be charged to seek escape from one’s captors? And even the accusation of shooting has been proved untrue.

I’m so sorry for handing over the innocent Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to the Americans. It was my biggest mistake ever! Khurshid Kasuri 23 Jan @twitter

AN American soldier on a shooting spree in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar killed 17 innocent Afghan civilians and wounded several others. On September 23, 2010 US Judge Richard Berman sentenced Dr Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years of imprisonment for the ‘intent’ to murder US officers in Afghanistan.In all likelihood, the American ‘justice’ will prevail with awarding a ‘light’ sentence to the American soldier who killed civilians in Afghanistan. On a similar note, Raymond Davis has still not been tried in any US court for the killing of Three Pakistani nationals while all efforts are in the offing to push our parliament to pass a resolution for the opening of Nato supply lines. Has the US ever heard the words ‘justice and human rights’?

Aafia Movement coordinated a series of marches, rallies, demonstrations and other events on March 30, 2012 to mark the 9th anniversary of the kidnap and rendition of Dr. Aafia and her three young children from Pakistan in 2003. Events were held across 15 countries including Indonesia, Iran, Kashmir, Pakistan, South Africa, UK, USA and others.

Finally, I would like to say that, our sister is not a terrorist, she is being sentenced to 86 years imprisonment just because she is Muslim. Awake peoples for Justice.

SOURCE : Pakobserver.net 

 Dr Fowzia Addressing to a huge crowd ghathered under Karwan e Gherat here at Kati Pahari – Qasba Colony -

   Photographer Jawed

Dishonouring a woman is a worse crime than contempt of court. When will justice be served?

Aafia is being used for political gains but no sincere effort has been done to bring her back.

She is being punished because she wanted to bring an educational reform.

On this mother’s day – not even a single phone allowed to Aafia to talk to her mother and children!

Dr. Fauzia, sister of Pride of Pakistan, daughter of the Nation, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, said It has been 9 years since Aafia’s abduction and for the past 5 years Aafia is locked up in a US jail for a crime she did not commit. Yet our leaders talk of democracy, parliament, and constitutional rights but strive only to save their own seats and positions. Our sister and daughter of the nation is being politicized and used, though her constitutional, religious, democratic all rights have been violated no positive action is undertaken.

Dr. Fowzia was addressing a huge rally of the Karvan-e-Ghairat (the Honor Caravan) where thousands of people had gathered in support of Aafia Siddiqui and restoration of honor and dignity.

Dr. Fowzia Said today is Mothers day, and we can all see the double standards of the Western imperialism. I ask the mothers of the west to feel in their hearts the pain that their governments have inflicted in the hearts of the mothers whose innocent children were victims of bomb blasts, the illegal war on terror and drones, the screams of the mothers of the enforced disappeared. The irony of Aafia’s children deprived of their mother. The sea of sorrow in the eyes of Aafia’s brave mother; Not even a phone call on mother’s day!

We have chosen Kati pahari as the second event of Karvan e Ghairat because you are the people who are suffering and know the pain and feeling of losing a loved one and living in constant fear of the worst. Yesterday even the free Aafia camp was attacked and cowards of the establishment tried to fire from behind. Despite all of the threats you, the thousands who have gathered here are facing you stand united for honor and dignity are the true voice of the people.

Aafia is being punished because she wanted to bring an educational reform. Insha’Allah with your help on her return we will continue that dream and every child will be educated and trained according to their aptitude.

Aafia’s return will be a blessing for the Nation as daughters are Allah’s blessings. I am not seeking revenge, I am not bitter, I am not a politician, nor here for any personal gain, you all know this is not about Aafia alone, this is about us. It is our honor and our dignity which we need to restore. Our survival as a nation depends on this. If we can unite for our dignity we can emerge as a respectful people who then cannot be ridiculed or subdued.

She hinted at the contempt case and said dishonoring a woman is a worse crime than contempt of court. The silence from those quarters of justice is deafening.

Pasban President Altaf Shakoor while addressing the rally remarked that this mother’s day again proves how ruthless the American Establishment is. He said contempt of court case on the PM was symbolically dealt with but what about the contempt of the honor and dignity of our daughter, our sister? When will justice be served? He lamented President Musharraf for selling our own people for dollars. Our current leaders are repeatedly insulting the nation, ridiculing our people, democracy massacred, and advocating the devil. We will not take it anymore.

Karachi Pasban president Sheikh Mohammad Shakeel read out a resolution that – the people will only vote for the party that has an unwavering policy and priority to bring Aafia back. Those who cannot stand for their daughters and sisters will never serve the Nation as without honor there is no principle.

Every political party must have a very clear policy on Aafia’s return or else be rejected. This was unanimously passed with a thunderous applaud from the crowd. He further said that we will continue to support the karwan-e-ghairat and will take it to all the corners of the country and the Ummah.  We will not rest until our sister is back and Pakistan’s dignity is restored.

Yar Mohammad & others also spoke on this occasion.

SOURCE : Aafiamovement.com 

Addressing a ‘Karvan-e-Ghairat’ rally in Karachi on Sunday, she said Aafia is being used for political gains but no sincere effort has been made to bring her back. Aafia is being punished because she wanted to bring an educational reform. She said on this mother’s day not even a single phone was allowed to Aafia to talk to her mother and children.

Dr Fauzia said it has been nine years since Aafia was abducted and for the past 5 years she is locked up in a US jail for a crime she did not commit. Yet our leaders talk of democracy, parliament, and constitutional rights but strive only to save their own seats and positions. Our sister and daughter of the nation is being politicised and used, though her constitutional, religious, democratic all rights had been violated no positive action is undertaken.

Dr Fauzia said today we could all see the double standards of the Western imperialism. I ask the mothers of the West to feel in their hearts the pain that their governments had inflicted in the hearts of the mothers whose innocent children were victims of bomb blasts, the illegal war on terror and drones.

She said: “We have chosen Kati Pahari as the second event of Karvan-e-Ghairat because you are the people who are suffering and know the pain and feeling of losing a loved one and living in constant fear of the worst.”

She said yesterday even a ‘free Aafia camp’ was attacked and cowards of the establishment tried to fire from behind. “Despite all of the threats thousands of people have gathered here and stand united for honor and dignity and they are the true voice of the people”, She added.

Dr Fauzia said Aafia is being punished because she wanted to bring an educational reform. “Insha’Allah with your help on her return we will continue that dream and every child will be educated and trained according to their aptitude.”

She said Aafia’s return would be a blessing for the nation as daughters are Allah’s blessings. “I am not seeking revenge, I am not bitter, I am not a politician and nor here for any personal gain. You all know this is not about Aafia alone, this is but about us. It is our honour and our dignity which we need to regain. Our survival as a nation depends on this. If we can unite for our dignity we can emerge as a respectful people who then cannot be ridiculed or subdued.”

Referring to the contempt case, Dr Fauzia said dishonoring a woman is a worse crime than contempt of court. “The silence from the quarters of justice is deafening.” Pasban President Altaf Shakoor, Sheikh Mohammad Shakeel, Yar Mohammad and others also spoke on the occasion.

SOURCE : Dailytimes.com.pk

She was addressing a massive rally of KARWAN E GERAT at Bacha Khan Chowk in Karachi where thousands of people have gathered to listen to her. She was received at Valika hospital and taken to Bacha Khan Chowk in a procession. While addressing to the charged mob she lamented the parliamentarians for compromising on the most important and sensitive issues like NATO supplies, Dr. Aafia’s release, Salala, Drones etc.

She said govt. and politicians have sold themselves and nation against dollars. The parliament doesn’t represent and reflect the public sentiments and should resign immediately before they are thrown out of it by the masses. I salute very few politicians of this country who never compromised on principles and did not sellout their conscious. Islam she said considers value, dignity and honor of women more important than Kaaba but our rulers and politicians have no value for it. She also said that now the Aafia movement is the only ray of hope for the deprived nation, The Karawan-e-gherat will organize rallies and processions all over the country and will mobilize the general public to restore the honor and dignity of the nation.

SOURCE : Aafiamovement.com / Demotix.com

Aafia is the honor of the entire ummah, and if we fail her we will be failing ourselves .

She was addressing a massive rally of KARWAN E GERAT at Bacha Khan Chowk in Karachi where thousands of people have gathered to listen to her. She was received at Valika hospital and taken to Bacha Khan Chowk in a procession. While addressing to the charged mob she lamented the parliamentarians for compromising on the most important and sensitive issues like NATO supplies, Dr. Aafia’s release, Salala, Drones etc. She said govt. and politicians have sold themselves and nation against dollars. Islam she said considers value, dignity and honor of women more important than Kaaba but our rulers and politicians have no value for it. The thousands gathered here have proven The parliament doesn’t represent and reflect the public sentiments and should make amends. Pasban President Altaf shakoor said that that an honorable nation requires an honorable leadership, there are even some principles of prostitution business but our rulers and politicians are even worse than sex workers.

The parliament should resign immediately before they are thrown out of it by the masses. I salute very few politicians of this country who never compromised on principles and did not sellout their conscious. He also said that now the Aafia movement is the only ray of hope for the deprived nation, The Karawan-e-gherat will organize rallies and processions all over the country with only one purpose to restore the honor and dignity of a once great Nation and earn the respect we deserve and will continue till Aafia is honorably released and Pakistan is free again.

SOURCE : Aafiamovement.com