Pakistan’s PM vows to campaign for release of woman convicted of attempting to kill US agents

Pakistan to fight for terrorist convict’s release

KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistan’s prime minister called a female scientist convicted of trying to kill U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan “the daughter of the nation” on Friday and vowed to campaign for her release from an American jail.

Yousuf Raza Gilani’s comments appeared to be an attempt to manage public anger over the 86-year sentence handed down to Aafia Siddiqui by a New York court on Thursday. The case of the American-trained Pakistani scientist and mother has struck a chord among Islamist groups and ordinary Pakistanis, many of whom are convinced of her innocence.

The sentencing prompted demonstrations in at least four cities after communal prayers on Friday and criticism in the media. Much of the anger was directed at the already unpopular Pakistani government for failing to somehow intervene in her case.

In Karachi, where Siddiqui’s family lives, police fired tear gas to disperse about 100 people who began hurling stones at officers, said police Chief Javed Akbr. In Islamabad, protesters from an Islamist political party attempting to reach the U.S. Embassy scuffled with police near a five-star hotel, witnesses said.

“Down with America! Jihad, Jihad!” the protesters shouted.

Gilani said he had lobbied U.S. officials for Siddiqui’s release to “improve the U.S. image in Pakistan.”

“We all are united, and we want the daughter of the nation to come back to Pakistan,” he told parliament, which unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Siddiqui’s repatriation.

“I fought for her, my lawyer fought for her and now I will take up this matter on a political level,” he said.

Siddiqui, 38, was detained in Afghanistan in 2008. She was found guilty of seizing a weapon from one of her captors and trying to shoot U.S. authorities who were interrogating her there.

Many Pakistanis believe claims by Siddiqui’s supporters that the U.S. abducted her long before that and kept her in a secret prison for years as it pursued its fight against global terrorism. U.S. officials deny those claims, though they had listed Siddiqui as a suspect wanted for alleged links to al-Qaida before her arrest.