US-based Pak group describes MPs visit to Dr Aafia "wasteful"

Washington, Oct 16 : A New-York group of Pakistani political workers has reportedly criticised the recent visit of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to the US to meet "terror suspect" Dr Aafia Siddiqui and visit the Guantanamo prison as "wasteful and unnecessary".

Aafia is currently held in a prison and facing a court trial over the charge of assaulting the US security personnel during interrogation after being arrested in Kabul under mysterious circumstances.

In a statement, the United States-Pakistan Freedom Forum's spokesman Shahid Comrade said that the Pakistani lawmakers appeared to be "more interested in sightseeing, shopping and meeting friends and family", reported the Daily Times.

He said some of the members had supported past dictatorships and were very much part of the government that bore direct responsibility for sending Pakistanis to American prisons and detention camps.

One lawmaker had spent most of his time with his children who were getting an expensive education in America, the spokesman said and added that the lawmaker did not even find the time to join the press conference at which some of the others were present.

"At a time when Pakistan finds itself in dire economic straits, such visits are irresponsible and a mockery of those back home who cannot even afford to feed themselves and their families," the statement said.

ANI