Pakistani Prime Minister Seeks Clemency for Aafia Siddiqui From President Biden

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally appealed to US President Joe Biden to grant clemency to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year prison sentence in the US for attempting to kill American officials in Afghanistan. The letter, revealed during a hearing at the Islamabad High Court, requests Siddiqui’s release on humanitarian grounds, citing her deteriorating mental and physical health. Sharif’s appeal is part of broader diplomatic efforts, though it faces significant hurdles due to Siddiqui’s ties to al-Qaida. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case has long been a point of contention in US-Pakistan relations. Reporter Arshad Mehmood notes that the American president has yet to respond to the request.