Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar compared the arrests of PTI founder Imran Khan and Aafia Siddiqui. He said legal due process applies equally to everyone. Dar spoke at an event organized by the Atlantic Council in Washington.
He stressed that no one should politicize court decisions. According to him, if the law leads to an arrest, it must be accepted without exception.
Dar highlighted Aafia Siddiqui’s long imprisonment in the US to explain his point. He said she has been detained there for decades with no special treatment. He argued that Imran Khan’s arrest should be viewed the same way.
The minister emphasized fairness in the legal process for all individuals. Dar’s remarks differed from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent assurances to Aafia’s family.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently promised Aafia Siddiqui’s sister that the government would continue legal support. The prime minister met with Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui to discuss the case. This meeting came after the Islamabad High Court issued contempt notices to the government.
The court demanded updates on Aafia’s health and possible repatriation. The government assures it is not negligent in handling her case.
Dar also spoke about the May 9 violence in Pakistan. He said even he, as a mediator, could not stop the attacks on military sites. He explained that his previous role helped end the 2014 sit-in peacefully.
However, the May 9 events were different because weapons were used against the military. Dar said no political leader should provoke violence or attacks on national institutions.
Dar stressed that due process must continue regardless of popularity. He said no leader gets a license to break the law. The deputy prime minister warned that the law applies to all Pakistanis equally. He called for respect for legal processes to ensure peace and order. Dar’s statements underline the government’s firm stance on law and order.