A petition for clemency, seeking the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving an 86-year sentence in the United States, has been submitted to the White House. Advocates are urging President Joe Biden to grant her release before his term ends on January 20, sources in Washington have confirmed.
A recent Pakistani delegation, led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, visited the U.S. to campaign for Siddiqui’s release on humanitarian grounds. The delegation included Senator Talha Mehmood and psychiatrist Dr. Iqbal Afridi. Their visit followed instructions from the Islamabad High Court to engage U.S. officials and lawmakers to push for her release.
During their visit, the delegation met with key U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Jim McGovern, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Senator Chris Van Hollen. They also held talks with Elizabeth Horst, the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. The delegation explored possible legal avenues for Siddiqui’s release, emphasizing the urgency of granting clemency. Pakistani-American community members confirmed that the clemency petition had been officially submitted to the White House.
“We remain hopeful that President Biden will make a decision before the transition to Donald Trump on January 20,” said one community member.
The delegation also visited Dr. Siddiqui at the Federal Medical Centre, Carswell, a Texas facility for female inmates needing specialized care. The visit lasted three hours and was attended by Dr. Iqbal Afridi. Senator Talha Mehmood described the meeting with Siddiqui as “encouraging” and expressed optimism, noting that over 60 pardon requests are on President Biden’s desk, including Siddiqui’s case.
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), a U.S.-based organization, assisted with some of the delegation’s engagements. Senator Bushra Anjum Butt described the trip as part of a broader diplomatic effort led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who had previously written to President Biden in October 2024, urging clemency for Siddiqui due to her deteriorating health.
Dr. Siddiqui, originally from Karachi, moved to the U.S. in 1990 on a student visa and earned a doctorate in neuroscience. She became involved with the Muslim Students Association during her time at MIT. In media reports, Siddiqui is alleged to have raised funds for a group later linked to Al-Qaeda. After returning to Pakistan in 2002, she divorced her first husband and married Ammar al-Baluchi, a relative of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.
Siddiqui was arrested in Afghanistan in 2008, allegedly with cyanide and documents related to U.S. landmarks. During questioning, she reportedly grabbed a U.S. officer’s rifle and fired, which led to her being shot. In 2010, she was convicted and sentenced to 86 years in prison, sparking widespread protests in Pakistan, where many view her as a symbol of resistance against perceived injustices.
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, commented on Twitter, speculating whether Imran Khan’s supporters might press the incoming Trump administration to negotiate a potential release deal for both Siddiqui and Khan.
