Pak-Americans appealed to set up a "legal fund" to defend 'terror suspect' Dr Aafia

Washington, Aug 14 : The Pakistani American Democratic Forum has reportedly urged upon all Pakistani American organisations to establish a legal funds for defending Pakistani-American national Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is facing trial in New York over terror charges, and attempting to kill a US soldier in Kabul.

The Forum also called upon the Pakistani-Americans to ensure that Dr Aafia is continuously raised in the media, including the Web.

In a statement, Forum Chairman Dr Muhammad Ashraf appealed to all Pakistani-Americans to fulfil their "moral and civic obligations" by putting together a comprehensive assistance plan to help Aafia defend herself before the US court hearing her case.

He added that Pakistani-Americans should demand a full investigation into the cases of all "missing" Pakistani nationals.

"If there is one issue that should have been taken to the United Nations Security Council or the International Court of Justice, it is that of missing Pakistanis," the Daily Times quoted him as saying in the statement.

In the statement, Ashraf also asked the Pakistani-Americans to establish a legal defence fund so that Siddiqui could be enabled to hire a team of competent lawyers. There should also be set up a website, an email network and regular updates on the progress of the case, he added.

A support network also needed to be organised to facilitate fundraising, volunteer work, research, media outreach and community education in order to keep the Aafia Siddiqui issue alive and prevent it from slipping into mass amnesia, said the Forum chief in the statement.

ANI