ISLAMABAD:
In what came across as an unconvincing gesture, the government decided it would approach the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council against ‘unsanctioned’ drone strikes being carried out in the country by the CIA. The announcement lost all sincerity when Prime Minister’s Adviser on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokar quickly added that the UN’s human right panel had “very limited scope and powers”.
“We are gathering data on collateral damage, figures of innocent people getting killed and property being destroyed … and we will take this issue to the UN,” Khokar told the National Assembly on Tuesday.
“These are extra judicial killings … a clear violation of human rights and we will raise this issue at international forums,” the adviser added in response to a barrage of criticism on the government by opposition members on what they called a dismal condition of human rights in Pakistan.
Though top government officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, have been opposing drone strikes through public statements, whether convincing or not, it is the first time that the administration announced it would take the issue to the UN.
Khokar did not comment on how, and through which authorities, data was being collected, or even when the government was planning on formally approaching the UN council. It’s been over half a decade since drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been pounding alleged al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in North and South Waziristan.
The UN Security Council that allowed international forces to attack Afghanistan back in 2001 after 9/11 to flush out the Taliban regime did not approve a hot pursuit or any sort of other attack inside Pakistan.
Reports in the past suggested Pakistan’s top political and military leadership have a tacit understanding with US authorities regarding the deadly drone strikes. Islamabad considers these strikes illegal and publicly opposes them.
Earlier in the National Assembly, several members from the opposition, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), rallied against the government for what some of them termed “a miserable failure” on the administration’s part to stop drone strikes from killing innocent people.
“This [drone strikes] is a violation of not only the established human rights, but also the integrity and sovereignty of the country,” PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik said.
Healthcare for pregnant women
On a separate note, the government agreed to a suggestion made by two female members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asking to declare healthcare for pregnant women a basic human right through a house resolution.
Maternal mortality rate in Pakistan is among the highest in the world, MNA Yasmin Rehman said, proposing to carry out a legislation to make it binding on the state to provide healthcare to pregnant women.
MNA Dr Azra Fazl endorsed Yasmin’s proposal and Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah agreed to bring a resolution in the house in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2011.
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Empty bluster and posturing... US could find more veritable arms of Pakistan if Pakistan did this.
To get honey isn’t an easy job ,before attacking bees in their hives you have to think on the immediate fatal consequences, or labors of the queen, worker bees and DRONES will be stalking you to your home. why also put others homes in peril.There are some other nice scientific ways to accuire them.
@Shyam: Shyam is 100 % correct when he writes:about shooting down U.S. drones. Another aspect to consider is that America and its flunky supporting countries have never attacked a country, which had a credible defense system, since Vietnam. I would suggest that if the Pakistan Government allowed its frustrated defense forces to bring down 10 drone aircraft the problem would be over immediately. America would huff and puff for a while, but after a short period would come back to the negotiating table with a new found respect for Pakistan. In the mean-time, if the Americans think they can get away with it, the drones will continue. It seems rather obvious, to a casual observer, that America needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs America. Further, if one listens to the rhetoric of U.S. politicians correctly, and this applies to the White-House and Presidential hopefuls, they appear to have nothing but contempt for Pakistan. There is only one way to win respect from a bully and that is to stand up to him. To use an Americanism, I do not expect the Pakistan Government to stand up to America any-time-soon. After all , Pakistan has allowed itself to become a flunky, U.S. satellite nation. I am not sure why Pakistan wanted independence from Britain in the late 1940's. After all they could always blame the British Raj for their problems. Now, although subservient to the U.S.in much the same way as the Raj, Pakistanis are supposed to be their own masters and they get the blame instead of America.
@Shyam . "Whats the point in having such a huge army when you need to run to the UN when someone bombs you?" . Good question. Your bombed all the time by the Taliban - yet in he past 10 years how many major offensives has Pakistan taken against the Taliban - one? . "Why doesn’t US do the same thing in Iran?? Is it because Iran has a spine?" . No - its because Iran doesn't provide sanctuary to the Taliban or Al Qaeda.
Some questions
Why approach the UN, what is Pakistan's "mighty" army for???, Isn't it Pak army's duty to safeguard the nation from attacks from outside? Whats the point in having such a huge army when you need to run to the UN when someone bombs you? Why not shoot down the drones with your shiny new JF-17 aircraft? Why doesn't US do the same thing in Iran?? Is it because Iran has a spine?