LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court on Tuesday gave another opportunity to the federal government to file the reply to a petition which sought directions to the government to stop drone attacks. A Deputy Attorney General (DAG) requested Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain to adjourn the hearing as the reply had not been furnished on behalf of the government.
The judge deferred the hearing till May 5 and directed the DAG to ensure submission of reply by that date. Barrister Iqbal Jaffree filed the petition against US’ drone attacks inside Pakistan and the silence by the government on the matter. Jaffree criticised the Pakistani rulers for callousness towards the national interests.
He alleged that they are enjoying a lavish lifestyle and are literally selling the sovereignty of the country only to prolong their rule with the blessing of USA. Jaffree also prayed to court to ask federal government for a comprehensive report about an agreement/treaty with the US and Black Water, if any, with respect to the drone attacks.
The petitioner also said that the government should also furnish the number of drone attacks and the number of persons killed due to them. He stated that former president Pervez Musharraf was responsible for drone attacks in Pakistan as his unwise foreign policy had turned Pakistan into a weak state. He requested the court to direct Pakistani rulers to disclose details of their assets as well as they had pledged national sovereignty to the US for the sake of personal gains.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2011.
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