Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday terms dialogues only way forward [to solve issues] with India.
He was talking to media in Multan. Terming relations with China exemplary, Qureshi added there was no space for rumors after Pak-China joint declaration. “In-depth talks were held with Chinese government on next phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)”, Qureshi was quoted as saying.
“130 countries participated in Shanghai Expo”, apprised Shah.
On rumors of Asia Bibi leaving the country, Shah stated that she was still in country and all news pertaining to her departure to a European destination are wrong.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the government wishes to see a decline in the “difficulties” faced by Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is currently imprisoned in the United States.
He said the Foreign Office had taken up complaints raised by Dr Aafia with US authorities during the last few days. Dr Aafia, who was convicted in 2010 on charges of attempted murder and assault of US personnel, is serving an 86-year sentence at the Federal Medical Centre, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. It is a US federal prison for female inmates of all security levels with special medical and mental health needs.
“We will definitely try,” was Qureshi’s response when asked by a reporter how successful the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government would be in bringing the imprisoned neuroscientist to Pakistan.
The minister said Aafia’s sister, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, had wanted to meet him and she was given a date for the purpose. However, the meeting could not take place due to her personal engagements.
“I will [now] meet her next week and hear her out. I will help her in whatever way I can within the limits of the law,” Qureshi said.
The Foreign Office had revealed on Wednesday that Pakistani officials had raised the issue of “respecting the human and legal rights” of Dr Aafia with the US.
The matter was brought up during a meeting between Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and government officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier in the week.
