A Trial based on Errors

News:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Friday that former US President Joe Biden had rejected Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's mercy petition. Justice Sardar Ejaz remarked, “The US is showing us our worth." The judge also criticized the US administration, drawing a comparison between Biden’s pardoning of his son’s sentence and the denial of clemency for Dr. Aafia, a Pakistani citizen. (Tribune)

Comment:

The woman known as “Lady al-Qaeda” or the “Grey Lady of Bagram”, an iconic victim of American brutality was only 36 years of age, when in 2003, she was abducted with her three children by Pakistan's inter-services intelligence agency and handed to the CIA, which took her to Bagram air base in Afghanistan. Dr Afia was formally arrested in Afghanistan in 2008, reportedly in possession of cyanide and documents referencing US landmarks. During questioning, she allegedly grabbed a US officer’s rifle and opened fire, an act that led to her being shot. In 2010, she was convicted and sentenced to 86 years in prison.

People of Pakistan, and the Muslims around the world have protested and demanded her release and hoped on every occasion that could be used by the Pakistani Government to get her released from the American claws but to no avail. Dr Afia Siddiqui has become a symbol of many things, depending on the eye that sees her case, ranging from humanitarian failure, denied justice to greed and deception, and in her case she is the one who stands tallest, with all eyes on her. She has stuck to her Iman in Allah while suffering all the inflicted pains and insults thrown at her. The silent bystanders must know that whatever she goes through is not only her test but a test of them too. If we have a closer look to the sequence of events then deception and greed of the Pakistani Government was the first step towards the long and persistent trail of horrors, which not only affected her life but had an intense impact on the lives of her children and family too.

This latest bid of getting her released through presidential pardon was one of many attempts made through American ways. Even if we have had her released through one of these mediums, it will not be considered justice. Justice for Afia would be when each and every contributing element gets the punishment for his/her deed. Certainly as Muslims we believe in the Day of Judgement, when scales will be balanced but we also believe that Allah (swt) gave sanctity to human lives, and our last prophet declared a Muslim’s blood holier than the Kabah.

When the honour of a woman of Madinah was attacked, it was considered as a breach of contract between Muslims and the Jews of Banu Qurayza. No diplomats were assigned to seek out a solution. Swift action was taken. Thus the woman did not become a story, but the tribe that created trouble became an example of lesson for others.

In history we have the example of one Muslim sister who was attacked in the Roman city. She was abused and locked up for no reason. Frightened and alone she called out the name of the Caliph ‘Oh Mu’tasim’. A man witnessed this incident and rushed to the Caliph informing him of what had happened, when he heard the plight of this woman he responded bravely, “Labbaiki” (I am here at your call). A large army was sent to rescue the woman and it trounced the enemy and freed the Muslim woman from her captors. No one knows the name of the woman but the name of the liberator shines through the chapters of history. The Prophet (saw) said,

«كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَالأَمِيرُ رَاعٍ» “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian.”

The abduction, imprisonment, trial and sentence of Dr Afia Siddiqui are all products of the Western style of ruling, which facilitates them to keep third world countries under their control, especially those in the Muslim world. Expecting any kind of relief from that system is a display of naivety. Release of Afia and justice for her lies in implementation of the Sharia Law. Getting her out of that prison and handing her back to her family who have not seen her for the last 21 years is not justice. Mutassam Billah insisted to be present at the time of the release of the Muslim woman who called for his help and when he saw her surprised he said “I heard you”, while in Afia’s case the Pakistani Ambassador in the US had not attended any meetings regarding Dr. Aafia’s case.

Dr Afia was taken away by force and treachery and unless and until we do not crush the treacherous head we can not use the strength of our forces in the true sense. They will keep serving the Western interest for worldly gains.

The GFP (Global Fire index) denotes Pakistan as a Top 15 global military power. On the whole, Pakistan is a top-rate global military power in the Asian theater with a massive land Army capable of deterrence and sustained offensive actions. Pakistan features the 7th largest tank fleet in the world to go alongside the 7th largest Air Force on the globe. Since Pakistan actively participated in “America’s war on terror”, despite these fairly boasted and impressive measures the Pakistani military leaders remain complicit when it comes to their own people, acting solely as lap dogs to Western powers. The people, including Pakistani soldiers, are no longer ready to be fooled into a proxy war. It is time for them to recognise and fight the true enemy. Only safety for Muslim women is under the Muslim ruler who fears and obeys Allah who applies the commands of Allah (swt) and fights for the spread of Islam. Prisons of kuffar and of their obedient servants of Muslim lands hold stories that are too heavy for the hearts that fear Allah.

Establishment of Khilafah (Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood will create stories that will strike terror in the hearts of the enemies of Allah and bring peace to the Ummah of Muhammad.

[يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَاغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ]

“O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.” [At-Tawbah: 73]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Ikhlaq Jehan