White House receives ‘clemency petition’ for Aafia Siddiqui

WASHINGTON: A clemency petition seeking the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been submitted to the White House urging President Joe Biden to grant her release.

Dr. Aafia, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2010 over the charges of opening fire on a US officer and others.

A local publication, citing sources in Washington, reported that members of the Pakistani-American community said that the clemency petition had been delivered to the White House.

The petitioner urged President Biden to pardon Dr. Aafia before transferring power to Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.

The development came after a Pakistani delegation, led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, including Senator Talha Meh­mood and psychiatrist Dr Iqbal Afridi visited the United States to advocate for Siddiqui’s release on humanitarian grounds.

In Washington, the delegation discussed the issue with US lawmakers, including Congressman Jim McGovern, who chairs a House committee, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Senator Chris Van Hollen.

During these meetings, the delegation explored potential legal avenues and emphasised the urgency of seeking clemency for Siddiqui.

The delegation, sent on instructions from the Islamabad High Court, also visited Dr Siddiqui at the prison facility in Texas, where the meeting lasted three hours.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Talha Mehmood said, “President Biden has over 60 pardon requests on his desk, including Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s. We are hopeful that her case will be prioritised and that the president will consider it with compassion.”