Anwaarul Haq Kakar, the Interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, has instructed that the case of the alleged sexual assault on Dr Aafiia Siddiqui, a Pakistani citizen incarcerated in the US, be brought to the attention of the US State Department, as announced by the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
During a weekly briefing, Baloch described the allegations concerning Aafia Siddiqui as ‘serious.’ It reassured journalists that the welfare of Aafia and all Pakistanis is of utmost priority to the government.
The issue came to light following a disclosure by Dr. Siddiqui’s lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), revealing that she had been sexually assaulted twice during her time in a US prison.
Baloch also addressed Pakistan’s efforts in the war on terror, highlighting the country’s recognized measures against terrorism and terror financing. She pointed out that discussions with American delegations this week are not solely focused on Afghanistan.
Regarding the claim that Afghanistan’s interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, possesses a valid Pakistani passport, Baloch stated that she had just seen the report and would respond after clarifying the facts.
In response to the alleged acid attack on Shahzad Akbar, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in London, Baloch mentioned that Akbar had not requested assistance from the local high commission in the UK. Akbar, currently in exile with his family, claimed on November 26 that he was targeted with an “acidic liquid” at his residence in Hertfordshire.
During her press conference, Baloch also addressed India’s stance on Kashmir, specifically condemning statements made by India’s Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah had declared in the Indian parliament that Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir “is an integral part of India.” The Foreign Office maintained that the Kashmir issue remains unresolved and continues to be on the agenda at the United Nations (UN).
Furthermore, Baloch expressed strong condemnation of Israel’s use of force against civilians in Gaza, reaffirming Islamabad’s stance against Israel’s actions in the region.
