ISLAMABAD- Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s family has extended profound gratitude to the present democratic government for making serious efforts in bringing Dr Aafia’s son Muhammad Ahmad back home.
Saad Saleem, Spokesperson Defence of Human Rights (DHR), an NGO struggling for the release of missing persons, said here during a press conference at Islamabad Press Club that Dr Aafia’s family was deeply grateful to the government for using effective diplomatic channels for getting back Muhammad Ahmad, Dr Aafia’s son.
He said that the aggrieved family felt that getting back of Ahmad was not possible if Pakistani high officials had not made their diplomatic efforts for his safe recovery from Afghanistan. “Afia’s family has also extended their heartfelt thanks to Pakistani politicians, namely Imran Khan, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for persistently raising voice against the injustice done to Dr Asfia Siddiqui,” he added.
Saad informed that Dr Fozia, sister of Dr Aafia, had to address the press conference but she was restricted from appearing in media till tomorrow.
“It was because of security reasons,” he said. He informed that Dr Aafia’s son had been kept in Islamabad.
He said that they expected that the present democratic government would seek Dr Aafia’s repatriation from illegal US custody immediately. He also demanded of the government to immediately release all other missing persons.
Students’ Coordinator DHR condemned the act of United States Department of Homeland Security, which has revoked the travel visa of Amna Masood Janjua, Chairperson DHR.
He said that Janjua was on a tour of Europe on invitation of Amnesty International where she highlighted the plight of the families of missing persons.
He further said that DHR had planned to stage protest demonstration on September 20, in which families of all missing persons would participate.
The 12-year-old son of neuroscientist and MIT graduate , Mohammad Ahmed, was handed over to his aunt  in Islamabad after years of detention in a  in Afghanistan. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is still currently facing trial charged with attempting to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Siddiqui and her three children disappeared after leaving her parent's house in  on 30th March, 2003. She was married to a nephew of , the accused mastermind of the  attacks. Her husband was captured in 2003 and is now held at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. In 2004, Dr. Aafia was identified by the FBI as an “Al-Qaeda operative and facilitator who posed a clear and present danger to America". 

Mohammad Ahmed's mother, Aafia Siddiqui.Mohammad Ahmed was only six when he and his mother, brother and sister were abducted from Karachi in 2003 and later handed over to US authorities. Dr. Fauzia told journalists after the boy had been given to her by officials of the interior ministry and intelligence agencies. She gave a written statement to the officials expressing her gratitude to the Pakistani nation, President of Pakistan Asif ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and the National Assembly and Senate for freeing the boy.

Mohammad Ahmed arrived at the  in Islamabad from Kabul in a PIA flight and was taken to his aunt’s residence.  co-chairman Iqbal Haider said that the daughter of Dr. Aafia was also in Afghanistan. He regretted that despite having U.S. nationality, the U.S. government did nothing for the release of its four citizens, stating that “this is a severe violation of the US laws and constitution.”

Muhammad Ahmed landed back to his home in Karachi from where he had disappeared five years back, with his family, Dr. Fauzia and her family hoping that the other two missing children would also be back home soon, by taking some positive steps from the Government of Pakistan.