Ministry says US started drone attacks in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan from 2008 onwards. PHOTO: FILE
The admission by the government that United States is carrying out done attacks in Pakistan is tantamount to admission of American aggression against the country, said Hafiz Saeed in his rejoinder, filed on Thursday in the Lahore High Court, to the reply of the Foreign Ministry on the petition he filed against drone attacks.
He added that it was the duty of the courts to ensure provision of basic human rights according to the Constitution and protection of life was one of them.
The court adjourned the hearing till Friday (today).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said in its reply that terrorists were the main focus of US drone attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It admitted that these strikes violated the country’s sovereignty.
It added that the government of Pakistan had been consistent in registering its protest with the US government on collateral damage and violation of sovereignty.
The ministry said that the US started drone attacks in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan from 2008 onwards. However, the frequency of attacks increased in 2009 to 37 strikes and to 115 in 2010 when the US administration decided to dismantle and disrupt safe heavens of terrorists. The reply said that so far more than 200 drone strikes had taken place.
This reply was submitted in connection with a petition filed by Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed against US drones attacks on Pakistani soil. The JuD chief in his petition had submitted that federal government should be directed to make public information in all matters of public importance, especially ‘secret deals’ with US. Such disclosure said Saeed was required in the spirit of Article 19-A of the Constitution which entitles every citizen to have access to all information.
He also sought a court declaration that federal government has acted against the general will of the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731975305-0/Untitled-design-(40)1731975305-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731975060-0/Untitled-design-(39)1731975060-0-165x106.webp "article")
1727244382-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(9)1727244382-0-270x192.webp "section 144 imposed in islamabad")
testing
Oil/Gas Discoveries in Southern KpK------1990s Work Starts on Indus highway------------1990s Kohat Tunnel--------------------------------1990s
OBL From Sudan to Af-Pak/Taliban Rise ----------1990s Dubai Oil depletes---------------------------1990s Pak Handover Shamsi Drone Base to Dubai----1990s
All Responsible for 9/11 Hijacking---------All Arabs none from Waziristan Black Water/Dyna Corp Regional Hqs----Dubai/
ARABS OIL PROFITS MAXIMIZATION - WAR OF TERROR
20 US $ /Barrel-------------2001 140 US $/Barrel-------------2007 107 US $/Barrel-------------2012
End Results : Unknown Bomb Blasts, Neverending Military Operations, Daily Drones, Unmarked Graves, Sharif in S Arab, NRO, Extensions, Billion $ Aid, Malala, Swat Vedios, 4000 US $ Saving per NATO Truck, e2e Logistics for Af-Pak Growth Rate 1800+ %
Malala Yousafzai attacked AND SO
More Drones/Jets attacks on Wazirs/Mehsuds. More Military Operations on Wazirs/Mehsuds. More War of Terror on Wazirs/Mehsuds. More Road Blocks for Wazirs/Mehsuds.
US Blood Dollars for Waziristan will be consumed in Islamabad, Fata Sectt Pesh, Swabi, Charsada, Mardan and Swat.
A Pashtun hailing from an area on 1 hour drive from Waziristan.....defending his People/Area !!!!
Not necessarily pro-Taliban/Al-Qaeda, but surely pro-Pakistan !
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151499175034167&set=vb.649314166&type=2&theater
The loss/killings of Shahzeb or 100+ Shia Hazara, is highly condemnable, but no less condemnable is the death of innocents (in thousands) in Waziristan.
The media, NGOs, academics and so called civil society unwillingness on Waziristan Genocide is even more palpable.
How many times have you heard any mainstream condemn the killing of Wazirs, Dawars and Mehsuds due to road blocks, food shortages and other inhumane treatment ?
Why Waziristan victims are not shown on media just like Shia Hazara Carnage ?
How many times has the need of a crackdown on the outfits based in Peshawar/Pindi/Islamabad who create justification for Waziristan genocide been publicly discussed?
There is no way of knowing how Waziristan have been ravaged in our name, in name of peace, in name of Pakistan.
Media during past 10 years have not shown fraction of killing of civilian innocents, Govt (Pesh & Islamabad) brutalities, secret assassination in Waziristan due to media black out/cover-ups.
The Waziristan Genocide whether by Taliban, mercenaries, militias, insurgents, or by soldiers of a nation, NATO, ISAF, Drones is terrorism.
Who is reaping the benefits from this? It is now a fact that mercenaries and pseudo-jihadists are nurtured to keep the pot boiling.
Sometimes impressionable minds are drawn into violence due to political issues by such forces that provoke them in the name of God and Islam, and provide them with logistics for the bombing attacks.
Which in turn give US justification for drone and military operations.
Why such suicide bombings are occurring regularly?
Were there such suicide bombing before 9/11?
Who plants bombs in cars, carts and luggage of unsuspecting individuals, and then projects them as suicide bombings?
Thousands have been killed as a result of terrorism in the country since the 9/11 and that its forces have for years in Waziristan due to various incentives (like Aid, Political Backing in Islamabad, Peshawar, Greater Mardan, Pindi) and extensions (Gen Kiyani).
There are many things to answer before we generalize. Looking for conspiracies behind everything seems absurd, but something is fishy down there.
while most war crimes, drone attacks, millitary operations since 9/11 have taken place in the Waziristan. Wazirs, Mehsuds, Burkis, Dawar have still not learnt inspite of hardest possible way to raise their voices for stopping Waziristan genocide. There’s nothing like a good war for politicians, generals and businessmen. While Waziristan genocide help generals extension, on other side it help in Political Backing for failed politicians (like Mush, Zardari, Karzai, Hoti, Bilour etc). Because they reinvent and empower themselves as they turn their insecurities and delusions of grandeur into a national and humanitarian cause. And for those who make its instruments, nothing beats the war business because war machine thrives on the conflicts just like Waziristan
The economy may be tanking and ordinary mortals like me and you may be driven up the wall by spiraling inflation. However, transporting things for US Drones and NATO that go “bang” and kill in Waziristan ever new ways are on a roll. If the Waziristan and FATA finds lasting peace, what will happen to all those NATO contracts in Billion $ for logistics and supply via Greater Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar and Khyber Agency. The ineffectual angels of the GHQ and big boys in Greater Mardan, Peshawar, Islamabad and Pindi who run the whole circus may make a great deal of promoting peace and stability while touring the West, but no one really wants peace. Especially not in the Waziristan. It is not to prove that US/UK/EU are serious about their claims about democracy/Human Rights. US/UK/EU do not have the slightest problem with Waziristan Genocide as it provide raison d’être for its imperial project for staying in Af-Pak. Especially after the so-called architect of 9/11 is gone and the US having no business in Afghanistan-Pakistan.