Aafia's defence team ensures fair trial

NEW YORK A lawyer for Dr Aafia Siddiqui, whose trial on murder charges begins next week, said on Friday that the detained Pakistani neuroscientists legal defence team will fight for her acquittal with a strong case it has built over the past four months.
Were now ready, Carles Swift, one of three eminent American lawyers retained by the Pakistani government, told a press conference at which Pakistans Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani introduced them to US-based Pakistani correspondents.
Ms Siddiqui, 37, who is charged with shooting at her US interrogators in Afghanistan, has vehemently denied attacking anyone. Shes not facing terrorism charges.
Swift said that the charge against Ms Siddiqui was baseless. Since their appointment, the team had worked hard and gathered as much information as possible and drawn up a strong defence for her. He had also visited Ghazni in Afghanistan where the alleged shooting incident had taken place and interviewed witnesses and officials in that city. In fact, he added, judicial hearings should have taken place there.
He said he could not predict the outcome of the case, which depended on several factors, including the evidence produced in the court. But he said he believed in the American justice system.
As regards the jury, which comprises a cross-section of the people, Swift said he has faith in the basic goodness of US citizens and the way they take their responsibility in courts.
The lawyer said they would fight for Ms Siddiqui as 'great injustice had been done to her. If she is convicted, she will get life sentence; if she is acquitted, she will get her life back. Introducing the three-member 'A-class legal defence team, Ambassador Haqqani said that the lawyers would put up a strong defence in a bid to bring to an end Ms Siddiquis difficulties.
Besides Swift, the legal team comprises Ms Linda Moreno and Ms Elaine Sharp. These lawyers were cleared by the Manhattan Federal Court on September 2.
Following the selection of a jury on Thursday, Ms Siddiquis trial is set to begin January 19, when opening statements will be made by the prosecution and defence lawyers following which the government will produce its first witnesses. The whole process is expected to be completed in a couple of weeks.
Haqqani said that the people of Pakistan believe that the charges against Ms Siddiqui were 'not true and that she was being victimised. They want her release immediately. He said President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Pakistan Embassy in Washington had all made efforts for her release and were continuing to do so.
Replying to a question, Swift, the lawyer, said although they have been paid by the Pakistan government, their task was solely to defend Ms Siddiqui. When a correspondent pointed out that Ms Siddiqui has disowned the defence team, Swift said that she had suffered a lot and he understood her state of mind.
But the defence teams efforts would be to ensure that she gets a fair trial.
About the campaign being conducted by a section of the American press against Ms Siddiqui linking her to Al Qaeda, Ms Moreno, a prominent lawyer, said it was unlikely to take any significant effect on jury members. There are always such elements trying to vitiate the atmosphere but it wont work.
As regards the concerns being voiced by Ms Siddiquis family, Moreno said she feels their pain and fully sympathised with them. All she could say that they will do their best in the court.
Asked about the impact of Ms Sidduqis demand for the exclusion of Jews from the jury panel and her anti-Israel statements, Swift said, I dont know. But Moreno said that Ms Siddiquis incarceration had damaged her mind and she feels very frustrated.