Obama in uk : British-Pakistanis to protest drone hits

LONDON: A cross-section of British-Pakistanis will hold a protest rally against drone attacks in Pakistan during US President Barack Obama’s visit to the British Parliament on May 25. The US president is due on May 24 on a state visit to the UK during which he will also address British lawmakers at the Houses of Parliament. The gathering outside the parliament will be joined by Lord Nazir Ahmed and other noted speakers from the Pakistani diaspora, including Rubab Mehdi, chairperson of the International Imam Hussein Council. A press release from the council said that according to international law, all civilised nations should protect and respect the borders and sovereignty of other nations. The statement pointed out that US drone attacks and the May 2 operation in Abbottabad had no mandatory authority of UN resolutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2011.