Today by the prayers of parents, hardworking of students, guidance of teachers and the Grace of God, The Insaf students’ federation has created history; we showed the world that Dr.Afia is the Daughter of Nation and students will not tolerate any injustice. We will fight for her release till the last drop of our blood .
MORE PICTURES
Daily Express News Lahore (February 17, 2010):
Express News Karachi (February 17, 2010):
Nawa-i-Waqt Lahore (February 17, 2010):
Daily Waqt Lahore (February 17, 2010):
The News. Wednesday, February 17, 2010
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Insaf Students Federation (ISF) on Tuesday took out a rally to express solidarity with Dr Aafia Siddiqui, demanding her immediate release.
“Insaf Rally”, which started from Faisal Chowk near the Punjab Assembly, was led by Dr Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia Siddiqui while hundreds of students from different universities and colleges, including Superior University, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the Punjab University and the FC College University, participated in the rally and expressed resentment over the verdict against Dr Aafia by the US jury.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-US and pro-Dr Aafia slogans, the charged protesters reached the Shimla Pahari near the US Consulate, Lahore, where Dr Fauzia and ISF office-bearers addressed the protesting students.
Dr Fauzia said the decision of the US jury had exposed American discrimination, adding Pakistanis were more dignified and would continue their peaceful protest for release of Dr Aafia.
She said Dr Aafia had become symbol of honour and sovereignty, adding the people of Pakistan, especially the youth, would not rest unless she returned to the country. She also appreciated the youth, especially the ISF, for expressing concern over Dr Aafia’s case. ISF Punjab president Hasaan Khan Niazi said the student wing of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) would continue its campaign for Dr Aafia until she came back to the country.
The Nation. LAHORE - Venting their outrage at Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s conviction, hundreds of students affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday marched from The Mall towards American Consulate to flay US excesses in the name of justice and press international community to play its role for immediate release of Aafia.
Earlier, the protesting students of Fatima Jinnah Medical College (FJMC) and Superior University also staged a massive demonstration outside the Punjab Assembly under the aegis of Insaf Student Federation (ISF) against US jury’s decision in Aafia case.
Addressing the protesters outside the US Consulate, Aafia Siddiqui’s sister Dr Fauzia said that chief offence of her sister was that she was a Muslim, who went to Afghanistan to provide medical assistance to the injured when the US had waged a war against innocent Afghan people. She questioned why the human rights organisations across the world, particularity in Pakistan, were silent over such a massive violation of human rights wherein an innocent woman and her minors had been arrested for nothing.
Terming the judicial proceedings in American court against her sister as bogus, Fauzia said all the allegations laid against Aafia were baseless and concocted. She demanded of the government to take the matter up with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and raise voice for the release of Aafia before the United Nations.
Daily Times (Feb 17, 2010)
* Aafia’s sister Dr Fauzia leads protest, says all allegations
‘baseless’, US court proceedings ‘fraud’
By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui on Tuesday mobilised hundreds of young students from key educational institutes across the city to protest against the detention and torture of Dr Aafia who is currently in US custody.
The protest rally was organised by the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and was held in front of the US Consulate.
Dr Fauzia addressed the students and spoke of the horrors of Dr Aafia’s detention at the US jail. Talking of the indignities meted out to her sister, she said, “She was stripped off her clothes and the Holy Quran was placed at her feet.” The emotionally charged participants of the rally chanted anti-US slogans and demanded the government to sever all diplomatic ties with the United States and send the US ambassador.
Baseless allegations: She termed all allegations against Dr Aafia “baseless” and the judicial proceedings in the American court “a fraud and bogus”. She demanded the US government to immediately withdraw all charges against Dr Aafia and repatriate her back to Pakistan. Simultaneously, she also urged the government of Pakistan to take concrete measures to protect the life and dignity of her sister.
“Her only crime was that she was a Muslim and a Pakistani... Why are all human rights organisations across Pakistan and the world silent over such a massive issue of human rights violation? What law on earth allows the arrest of an innocent woman and her children without any charges?” she questioned. Fauzia strongly criticised the so-called Pak-US friendship, saying the “Americans were the enemy of Pakistan. No friend ever kidnapped daughters of their friends or attacked them with drones”. She said Pakistanis were a peaceful nation and not a nation of terrorists. “We will raise our voice till Dr Aafia and all other missing girls are recovered,” she added.
The students started their march in front of the Punjab Assembly building at the Mall Road and moved towards the American Consulate. They carried banners, placards
and black flags and chanted anti-US slogans.
ISF Lahore President Hassan Niazi, Secretary Farrukh Habib and Secretary Information Sheikh Naseer also addressed the students and assured Dr Fauzia that they would continue their struggle for her sister’s release. They warned the US government that although they were currently protesting peacefully, the situation could change in the future.
Hundreds of female doctors and nurses of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Young Doctors Association (YDA) along with the students of the Mohammadon Anglo Oriental College, Aitchison College, the Forman Christian College, University of Lahore, the Superior University, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Punjab University and various other colleges and universities participated in the rally in huge numbers. While the rally was taking place, the city police had cordoned off the entire area leading to the US Consulate as a precautionary measure. Later, the protestors dispersed peacefully as
Dr Fauzia left for Karachi.