NA demands Dr Aafia's repatriation

ISLAMABAD â€" The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution for strongly condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions (Sahaba) in an Indian newspaper. In another resolution, the House demanded of the United States for immediate repatriation of Pakistani national Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

The Assembly demanded of the government to lodge a strong protest with the Indian government and summon Indian High Commissioner to register a strong protest.

The House deeply concerned over the arrest and detention of Dr Aafia and demanded to US government and to urgently provide necessary medical assistance to her if required.

Law Minister Farooq H. Naek moved the resolution about the blasphemous caricature and demanded of the Indian government to take strict action against the newspaper to prevent publication of such material in future.

The resolution on Dr Aafia, moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, expressed concern at her detention and called upon the government to take up the matter with the US authorities.

It called for full respect to Dr Aafia’s religious belief and immediate information on the whereabouts of her children and their immediate custody to the members of the family or Pakistani authorities.