Pakistan, Jan. 26 -- Hopes for Dr Afia Siddiqui's release gained momentum when former US President Joe Biden began granting pardons and clemency to several people. In Pakistan and among select circles in the US, there were hopes that Dr Siddiqui might also benefit from this trend. However, this hope was crushed when the outgoing president rejected her plea for clemency.

The decision was received with a share of frustration in Pakistan. Consider: Islamabad High Court Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan remarked in a related case that "America is showing us our place". Indeed, due to our economic place, unfair treatment of a Pakistani citizen does not take a lenient consideration from anyone.

Dr Siddiqui, a neuroscientist, was convicted in 2010 by a ...