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Questions about convicted Pakistani doctor | Questions about convicted Pakistani doctor |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad | By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad |
Siddiqui maintained the charges against her were fabricated | Siddiqui maintained the charges against her were fabricated |
Despite protests in Pakistan, the conviction of Pakistani doctor Aafia Siddiqui in a US court for the attempted killing of US agents is not going to come as a surprise to anyone. | |
Her supporters and family here have been vociferous in their protests against her trial, but even they were not hopeful about the outcome. | Her supporters and family here have been vociferous in their protests against her trial, but even they were not hopeful about the outcome. |
"We were expecting this," Siddiqui's uncle, Shamsul Hasan Farooqi, told the BBC. | "We were expecting this," Siddiqui's uncle, Shamsul Hasan Farooqi, told the BBC. |
Other family members were equally indignant. | Other family members were equally indignant. |
"My sister is innocent... she has been tortured and detained for years," Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said. | "My sister is innocent... she has been tortured and detained for years," Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said. |
"She is a victim of American injustice." | "She is a victim of American injustice." |
Disappearance | Disappearance |
The jury at the New York court was unanimous in its verdict. | The jury at the New York court was unanimous in its verdict. |
She may have eventually decided enough was enough and rejoined the jihadis Shamsul Hasan FarooqiDr Siddiqui's uncle | She may have eventually decided enough was enough and rejoined the jihadis Shamsul Hasan FarooqiDr Siddiqui's uncle |
But it has far from resolved questions surrounding Siddiqui during her disappearance from Karachi on 30 March 2003. | But it has far from resolved questions surrounding Siddiqui during her disappearance from Karachi on 30 March 2003. |
She had driven out of her home with her three children and was not heard of again till 14 July 2008. | She had driven out of her home with her three children and was not heard of again till 14 July 2008. |
On that day, she was produced in front of a group of journalists in the province of Ghazni in Afghanistan. | On that day, she was produced in front of a group of journalists in the province of Ghazni in Afghanistan. |
Afghan security officials said she had been arrested while planning to carry out "a terrorist attack". | Afghan security officials said she had been arrested while planning to carry out "a terrorist attack". |
Later, US officials said she was shot while trying to escape during an interrogation. | Later, US officials said she was shot while trying to escape during an interrogation. |
She was subsequently flown to New York for her trial. | She was subsequently flown to New York for her trial. |
Siddiqui's family denies this version of events. | Siddiqui's family denies this version of events. |
They say she was kidnapped in Karachi along with her children and then kept in a secret US prison. | They say she was kidnapped in Karachi along with her children and then kept in a secret US prison. |
They point to the fact that Siddiqui was only "arrested" after a storm had been raised about her alleged detention in Afghanistan's Bagram airbase. | They point to the fact that Siddiqui was only "arrested" after a storm had been raised about her alleged detention in Afghanistan's Bagram airbase. |
Reports of her presence there were initially made by British journalist Yvonne Ridley - best known for her capture by the Taliban in 2001 and subsequent conversion to Islam. | Reports of her presence there were initially made by British journalist Yvonne Ridley - best known for her capture by the Taliban in 2001 and subsequent conversion to Islam. |
New facts | New facts |
Siddiqui herself appeared to suffer initially from memory loss. | Siddiqui herself appeared to suffer initially from memory loss. |
It's not clear how Siddiqui ended up at Bagram airbase | It's not clear how Siddiqui ended up at Bagram airbase |
She later said she was detained at a US secret prison but could not recall the details. | She later said she was detained at a US secret prison but could not recall the details. |
But there are facts about the case itself which puts it in a different light. | But there are facts about the case itself which puts it in a different light. |
Dr. Aafia, who was recently divorced, is said to have married Amar Al Baluchi. | |
He is the nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the main planner of 9/11. | |
Whether she came under his influence is unclear. Mystery also surrounds the fate of two of Siddiqui's children, a son and daughter. | |
In 2008 Siddiqui's eldest son was handed over to Pakistani officials by Afghan authorities. | |
The only real clue to all these may lie in what her uncle, Shamsul Hasan Farooqi has told the BBC. | The only real clue to all these may lie in what her uncle, Shamsul Hasan Farooqi has told the BBC. |
"Five years after she went missing, my niece reappeared on my doorstep on 22 January 2008," he said. | "Five years after she went missing, my niece reappeared on my doorstep on 22 January 2008," he said. |
"Someone had rung my door bell and then my servant came and told me a woman wanted to see me. | "Someone had rung my door bell and then my servant came and told me a woman wanted to see me. |
"When I went to meet her, I saw Aafia standing outside. She was wearing a burka and was clearly very scared." | "When I went to meet her, I saw Aafia standing outside. She was wearing a burka and was clearly very scared." |
"She said she wanted me to put her in touch with the Afghan Taliban." | "She said she wanted me to put her in touch with the Afghan Taliban." |
'Monitored' | 'Monitored' |
Mr Farooqi explained that he used to carry out geological work in Afghanistan and had established contact with the Taliban in 1999. | Mr Farooqi explained that he used to carry out geological work in Afghanistan and had established contact with the Taliban in 1999. |
Siddiqui grabbed a soldier's rifle and opened fire on the agents | Siddiqui grabbed a soldier's rifle and opened fire on the agents |
"But I told her that I was no longer in touch with them," he said. | "But I told her that I was no longer in touch with them," he said. |
Mr Farooqi said that his niece also spoke about what happened after she went missing - he was told that she had been "held in various places at various times". | Mr Farooqi said that his niece also spoke about what happened after she went missing - he was told that she had been "held in various places at various times". |
"She had not seen her children for years - sometimes her captors said they were dead and sometimes that they had been sent abroad," he said. | "She had not seen her children for years - sometimes her captors said they were dead and sometimes that they had been sent abroad," he said. |
"She was quite clear that she was being held by Pakistani agencies. She spoke well of the Americans, but was clearly afraid of the Pakistanis. | "She was quite clear that she was being held by Pakistani agencies. She spoke well of the Americans, but was clearly afraid of the Pakistanis. |
"Before she came to see me, she said that she was being held in Lahore by a security agency." | "Before she came to see me, she said that she was being held in Lahore by a security agency." |
Mr Farooqi says that he immediately called his sister - Siddiqui's mother - who flew in from Karachi the next day to meet her daughter. | Mr Farooqi says that he immediately called his sister - Siddiqui's mother - who flew in from Karachi the next day to meet her daughter. |
He says Siddiqui stayed with them for two days before leaving by taxi. | He says Siddiqui stayed with them for two days before leaving by taxi. |
"Throughout this time I had a strong feeling that she was being monitored in some way - through a device on her person or some other method," he said. | "Throughout this time I had a strong feeling that she was being monitored in some way - through a device on her person or some other method," he said. |
When contacted by the BBC, her sister Dr Fauzia refused to comment on this account. | When contacted by the BBC, her sister Dr Fauzia refused to comment on this account. |
On the basis of reports of Siddiqui being sighted in Pakistan's north-western tribal region, a different picture emerges. | On the basis of reports of Siddiqui being sighted in Pakistan's north-western tribal region, a different picture emerges. |
"It could well be that Dr Siddiqui was working as a double agent after her disappearance," says a journalist who has investigated the case. | "It could well be that Dr Siddiqui was working as a double agent after her disappearance," says a journalist who has investigated the case. |
"But she may have eventually decided enough was enough and rejoined the jihadis." | "But she may have eventually decided enough was enough and rejoined the jihadis." |
She certainly would not be the first person to do so - a recent deadly attack in Afghanistan which killed seven CIA agents was reportedly carried out by an al-Qaeda double agent. | She certainly would not be the first person to do so - a recent deadly attack in Afghanistan which killed seven CIA agents was reportedly carried out by an al-Qaeda double agent. |
Much remains murky about the life of Siddiqui and it looks as if many of her secrets will go to jail with her. | Much remains murky about the life of Siddiqui and it looks as if many of her secrets will go to jail with her. |