Ishaq Dar Under Fire for Linking Imran Khan’s Arrest with Aafia Siddiqui’s Case During U.S. Interview

During his recent visit to the United States, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar faced sharp backlash after making a controversial comparison between former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest and the decades-long incarceration of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in the U.S.

While speaking at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, Dar responded to a question from NBC News national security correspondent Dan De Luce regarding the fairness and legality of Imran Khan’s arrest. Though his response was measured, his reference to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui sparked widespread criticism on social media.

Dar later issued a clarification on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his remarks were taken out of context. “In our past governments, we have always extended diplomatic and legal support for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s release and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved,” he wrote.

He added that “every country has its own legal processes, whether it’s Pakistan or the United States. Our stance on Dr. Siddiqui’s release remains clear and firm.”

His explanation did little to stem the backlash, particularly because a large section of the Pakistani public does not consider the U.S. court’s decision against Dr. Siddiqui to be fair. A case regarding her return is currently pending in the Islamabad High Court.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui disappeared from Karachi in March 2003. She was later convicted in a U.S. court in 2010 for attempting to harm U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and sentenced to 86 years in prison. Her sister, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, continues to campaign for her repatriation to Pakistan.

Just last month, the federal government declined to assist legally in Dr. Siddiqui’s case in the U.S., prompting the Islamabad High Court to issue a show-cause notice to the federal cabinet for contempt of court after it failed to respond.

What Did Ishaq Dar Say in the Interview?

When asked about Pakistan’s recent political climate, Dan De Luce prefaced his question by saying: “I’m going to ask you something that may not be comfortable.” He then referenced Imran Khan’s arrest, noting that questions have been raised both domestically and internationally about the legality and fairness of the charges against him.

De Luce asked whether such political actions could damage Pakistan’s democratic reputation.

Dar, in response, noted that he has over 30 years of political experience and is known for playing a mediator’s role. He referred to the 2014 PTI sit-in in Islamabad, which he claimed caused significant economic damage. He said he had mediated during that crisis, but added: “When someone takes up arms against the state and does what happened on May 9, even someone like me can do nothing. The legal process must take its course.”

May 9, 2023, refers to the day Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary forces from the Islamabad High Court premises, triggering nationwide protests that included attacks on military installations. This led to a wave of arrests of PTI leaders and supporters.

Dar further explained, “We shouldn’t politicize everything. For example, if I speak of Aafia Siddiqui—she has been here (in the U.S.) for decades, and God knows how much longer she’ll remain here. If the law was applied in her case and she was sentenced, it would be wrong for me to criticize that verdict.”

He emphasized that “no one is above the law. If you are a popular political leader, that doesn’t give you a license to take up arms, incite violence, or attack military installations. That amounts to treason.”

Dar also clarified, “I’m not a judge. I can’t intervene. I used to mediate, but not in this case. The law will take its course. I assure you, this government has not interfered—these decisions were made by the judiciary and the caretaker setup. Like any democratic country, we do not interfere in judicial matters.”

“Did the Army Chief Discuss Aafia Siddiqui with Trump?”

Following the interview, Pakistan’s Foreign Office released a statement summarizing Ishaq Dar’s visit to the Atlantic Council but omitted any reference to his comments about Dr. Siddiqui.

The minister’s remarks have yet to be addressed by his party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), but social media users have reacted strongly. PTI leader Engineer Naveed stated that Dar’s comments effectively justified Imran Khan’s “illegal” detention by comparing it to a case many Pakistanis view as a miscarriage of justice.

“This is why I always say PML-N is the worst thing that happened to Pakistan,” he added.

Some users also brought up Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir’s recent visit to the U.S., asking whether he had raised the issue of Dr. Siddiqui’s release with former President Donald Trump during their White House luncheon.

Trump had praised Gen. Munir at that event, calling their meeting an “honor” and recognizing his role in helping de-escalate tensions between Pakistan and India.

Dr. Waqas Nawaz wrote, “The worst part is this hypocrisy. The ruling elite in Pakistan publicly express sympathy for Aafia Siddiqui’s family while privately using her suffering to justify their own actions.”

Another user, Syeda Safvi, added, “They’ll say anything to convince the world they’re on the right side.”