Comments on: Returning to Aafia

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:22:30 +0000

I agree with you that, “The growing rift between the masses in Pakistan and US authorities is distressful.”

Does the Pakistani intellectual class bear any responsibility for this rift?

Your blog offers zero analysis of Aafia’s conviction (i.e., attempted murder), and instead focuses on her possible illegal detention.

Illegal detention and torture are inexcusable. But isn’t attempted murder as well? Why focus on one to the exclusion of the other?

If this commentary (and its omissions) is what a liberal Pakistani produces, one can only imagine what the Pakistani right-wing produces.

I guess it’s no wonder that the Pakistani masses see her as a hero.

On the other hand, I would imagine that a harsh critique of Aafia (or even an objective one) could be extremely dangerous in today’s Pakistan.

By: amer nadeem advocate high court

amer nadeem advocate high court — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:16:21 +0000

Dr Afia case is well known with facts and circumstances as Sana wrote well above. Below is the case of Mirza Tahir ;

Mirza Tahir Hussian is a Pakistani born UK citizen. In Dec.1988, he came Pakistan to visit his village in Chakwal. He hired a taxi from Rawalpindi to Chakwal. On the way, a quarrel took place between Mirza Tahir Hussian and taxi driver Jamshad khan. Mirza Tahir Hussian committed the murder of poor taxi driver Jamshad khan with his pistol.
District Court awarded Death sentence to Mirza Tahir Hussian in the murder of taxi driver Jamshad khan. Death sentence remained confirmed by by the High Court and Supreme Court as appeals of Mirza Tahir Hussian dismissed. Pity (raham) appeal dismissed by the President of Pakistan. Now Mirza Tahir Hussian had no legal remedy but to wait for his death by Hanging.
Mushraf era came in. In 2006, Uk madia and family of Mirza Tahir Hussian raised voices in the UK for the conversion of death into life imprisonment. There was pressure on Pakistan Govt. President seeked opinion from Law ministry, who wrote that only legal heirs of Jamshed Khan can waive the murder, President or state has no right to intervene, law of Qisas demands that State can not waive the murder. Mushraf refused the UK as there was no law in Pakistan to rescue Mirza Tahir Hussian from death.
Govt level moves initiated to settle the Mirza Tahir Hussian family. His family refused the waive the murder instead of many lucrative temptations.
Oct. 2006 Prince Charles visited Pakistan just to settle Mirza Tahir Hussian issue.
22 November, 2006 Mirza Tahir Hussian was taken out of the Adilla Jail and sent back to UK on a special charted plane by Govt of Pakistan.

Mirza Tahir Hussian came back leaving behind restless taxi driver Jamshad khan family, weak Pakistani law.

Can we have comparison Mirza Tahir Hussain Case with Dr, Afia case?

By: Shahid

Shahid — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:19:10 +0000

Hareem, she was tortured and sexually assaulted isn’t proved in the court

By: Ahmed Ali

Ahmed Ali — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:53:43 +0000

Shame on USA.

By: hareemahmer

hareemahmer — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:53:18 +0000

just assume for a moment that aafia really is related to some kind of terrorists groups..but in which book of law is written to torture or sexually assault a criminal??? USA is a prominent supporter of human rights and stuff like that.. what on earth they think they are promoting?? shame on American govt. LOOSER

By: anonymouspakistani

anonymouspakistani — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:08:17 +0000

I’m not too familiar with Aafia’s case in particular, however, I wrote a research paper several years ago which focused on human rights abuses due to the War ‘of’ Terror, and suffice it to say that there have been gross violations of human rights because of it. Detainees have included teenagers well below the age of majority to several who may have been at least in their 90s!

By: Returning to Aafia | Tea Break

Returning to Aafia | Tea Break — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:22:08 +0000

[...] This cup of tea was served by: Mystified Justice [...]

By: Salman Latif

Salman Latif — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:38:49 +0000

You mapped out the case well in the light of the facts. What’s startling posterior to the sentence is that some of our so-called intellectuals had the brazen wit to suggest that Pakistan shouldn’t care a damn about ‘just a single woman’ and rather concentrate and expend money on more important affairs. I must say such a utilitarian approach inevitably brings dangerous connotations! For in this case is implicit the future of exploits of the war against terror.
I’m glad finally to have found some sane thoughts from someone on the issue. Bravo!

By: Salman Latif

Salman Latif — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:37:54 +0000

You mapped out the case well in the light of the facts. What’s startling posterior to the sentence is that some of our so-called intellectuals had the brazen wit to suggest that Pakistan shouldn’t care a damn about ‘just a single woman’ and rather concentrate and expend money on more important affairs. I must say such a utilitarian approach inevitably brings dangerous connotations! F
I’m glad finally to have found some sane thoughts from you on the issue. Bravo!