Making amends: Lawmakers demand compensation for drone victims
Ask US to stop attacks, respect Pakistan’s sovereignty
PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
Members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have urged the government to compensate people in the tribal areas for the losses suffered due to drone strikes. They also said the government should ask the US to pay for losses it has suffered due to these attacks.
The demand was made during a briefing at the Assembly Conference Room on Friday. The event was attended by K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and a large number of lawmakers. Two US nationals also attended the meeting.
The US nationals condemned the drone strikes and criticised the US government for adopting this policy. They voiced embarrassment over the attacks and vowed to raise awareness about the negative impact of US drone attacks.
Speaking on the occasion, Qaiser said drone attacks are being carried out in violation of international laws.
“This violates the sovereignty of Pakistan,” he said. “Hundreds of children, women and men have been killed in drone attacks.” The speaker termed the attacks to be a threat to territorial integrity.
“Such attacks would not be accepted at any cost,” he said.
Qaiser urged the west to condemn the drone strikes as well.
“The issue of drone attacks carried out against the innocent tribespeople of Pakistan must be taken to the International Court of Justice,” he added.
The speaker appealed to the US to stop drone attacks and respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
“A resolution has already been approved by the provincial assembly and all political parties are united against the attacks,” he said.
Impartial investigation
Shehzada Akbar, a lawyer and activist, said drone attacks are violating human rights. He demanded an impartial investigation should be carried out to ascertain the losses suffered by tribespeople due to the attacks.
He said the government must admit to its responsibility and compensate victims.
Members of the provincial assembly present at the briefing pressed the federal government to devise a mechanism to provide compensation
They also recommended that steps should be taken to stop such attacks in future. Furthermore, they suggested Peshawar High Court’s decision against the legality of drone strikes should be implemented.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.
Members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have urged the government to compensate people in the tribal areas for the losses suffered due to drone strikes. They also said the government should ask the US to pay for losses it has suffered due to these attacks.
The demand was made during a briefing at the Assembly Conference Room on Friday. The event was attended by K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and a large number of lawmakers. Two US nationals also attended the meeting.
The US nationals condemned the drone strikes and criticised the US government for adopting this policy. They voiced embarrassment over the attacks and vowed to raise awareness about the negative impact of US drone attacks.
Speaking on the occasion, Qaiser said drone attacks are being carried out in violation of international laws.
“This violates the sovereignty of Pakistan,” he said. “Hundreds of children, women and men have been killed in drone attacks.” The speaker termed the attacks to be a threat to territorial integrity.
“Such attacks would not be accepted at any cost,” he said.
Qaiser urged the west to condemn the drone strikes as well.
“The issue of drone attacks carried out against the innocent tribespeople of Pakistan must be taken to the International Court of Justice,” he added.
The speaker appealed to the US to stop drone attacks and respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
“A resolution has already been approved by the provincial assembly and all political parties are united against the attacks,” he said.
Impartial investigation
Shehzada Akbar, a lawyer and activist, said drone attacks are violating human rights. He demanded an impartial investigation should be carried out to ascertain the losses suffered by tribespeople due to the attacks.
He said the government must admit to its responsibility and compensate victims.
Members of the provincial assembly present at the briefing pressed the federal government to devise a mechanism to provide compensation
They also recommended that steps should be taken to stop such attacks in future. Furthermore, they suggested Peshawar High Court’s decision against the legality of drone strikes should be implemented.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.