Demonstrators appeal to Biden to approve mercy petition for Dr Aafia

On the eve of Joe Biden’s last day as the president of the United States, a large number of citizens on the call of the Friends of Aafia gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Sunday to appeal to the outgoing US president to approve the mercy petition for Dr Aafia and release her from the American prison.

According to a statement issued by the movement for the release of Dr Aafia, a large number of citizens had already signed the mercy petition for Dr Aafia. The statement read that the US president should order her release on humanitarian grounds.

Addressing the demonstration, Pasban Democratic Party Chairman Altaf Shakoor said citizens of not only Pakistan but also of many other countries had been demanding the release of Dr Aafia.

He, however, lamented the role of the Pakistani government in this regard, stating that the government had disappointed the whole nation.

Millions of people around the world had been demanding the release of Dr Aafia for last two decades, he said.

Sardar Zulfiqar said that by the release of Dr Aafia, the image of the US would improve in the Muslim world, including Pakistan.

SK Marwat said Dr Aafia was an innocent woman who had faced great atrocities. He appealed to the US president to release her. Junaid Ahmed said that for the last two decades, they had been struggling peacefully for the release of Dr Aafia and the struggle would continue till her release.