"Terror suspect" Dr Aafia's sister Dr Fauzia demands her immediate release

Karachi, Oct 7 : Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of "terror suspect" Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is presently put in a US jail and facing trial over charges of physically assaulting American troops in Afghanistan while in custody, has demanded her immediate release so that she could receive proper medical treatment.

Expressing grave concern over her sister's deteriorating health, she alleged that despite court orders being issued, the US government had not made arrangements for Dr Aafia's treatment.

Dr Fauzia said while addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday. She was accompanied by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretary General Iqbal Haider, who also demanded the immediate return of Dr Aafia.

She said that the court had ordered Dr Aafia be sent to the Carswell Psychiatric Centre, a facility known as the 'house of horror', as it has a well-documented history of physical, psychological and sexual abuse, even by doctors, priests and prison guards.

She termed Judge Berman's ruling on October 1 as shocking, as he ordered her transfer to the centre and also allowed use of force against her.

"Her transfer to this notorious horror centre means even worse abuse and solitary incarceration for an unlimited period, without further trial," she said, adding that since the US government had no grounds to keep her in further detention and they were using the pretext of psychiatric evaluation to "detain her".

Dr Fauzia said that the best treatment for Dr Aafia, after over five years of physical, mental and emotional torture, is to send her home so she can be reunited with her family and receive the love, affection and sense of security that she has been deprived of for so long.

ANI