Pak envoy demands immediate repatriation of "mentally unfit" Dr Aafia

New York, Nov 20 : Pakistan ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani has demanded that "terror suspect" Dr Aafia Siddiqui (put in a US jail and facing trial) should be immediately repatriated to Pakistan, after an American court found her "mentally" unfit to stand trial.

In a letter to the American government, Haqqani urged the US administration to arrange for an "immediate repatriation" of Siddiqui so that she could be looked after in her home country.

He also assured the US government that Dr Aafia would not be allowed to take part in any activity, as she was "mentally and physically" incapacitated, reported the Daily Times.

According to the paper, the Pakistani envoy also urged the US to use this as an opportunity to enhance its image of being friendly towards Pakistan, which would further boost relations between two countries.

Earlier, a US federal judge had stated Siddiqui was mentally unfit to be tried in a court of law. At the hearing in New York on Wednesday, the judge brought the government doctor's report declaring Dr Siddiqui "mentally unfit" to stand trial to the notice of the prosecution, seeking a reaction from the prosecution.

The prosecution responded that it would study the report and could ask for an independent assessment of the finding about the Pakistani prisoner's mental health.

The judge then set December 17 as the next date of hearing.

Dr Siddiqui's defence lawyer was present in the court, as was an official from the Pakistan consulate-general in New York.

ANI