ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Thursday informed the Senate that diplomatic efforts were being made to set free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from US detention.
Replying to a supplementary question during Question Hour, the advisor said that steps were also being taken to provide counselor access to Dr Aafia.
Sartaj Aziz said that in the United States, the respective US authorities provide defence lawyer/attorney to the individuals under trial. Some of them who already have a legal status in the United States like green card etc or pending asylum cases hire their own attorneys, he said.
However, Pakistani missions provide immediate consular access and regular consular visits to the detainee besides telephonically in contact with the Pakistani nationals. The Missions also provide possible legal assistance, if requested, he said.
The advisor said expeditious verifications were undertaken where required in order to prepare Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) for repatriation of Pakistani nationals.
