Unmanned killers: Details on drone strikes ‘incomplete’

Bench ordered political administrations of North and South Waziristan agencies to submit a detailed reply by March 7.


Our Correspondent February 14, 2013
The bench was told that from 2008 to 2012, 147 drones were reported, in which at least 894 males, 35 females and 24 children were killed in NWA. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

PESHAWAR:


The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday termed the information submitted by North Waziristan Agency’s (NWA) political agent on those killed in drone strikes since 2008 incomplete and lacking details on collateral damage.


The data was produced before the court during the hearing of four different writ petitions filed by advocate F M Sabir, Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC), Foundation of Fundamental Rights and Malik Noor Khan against drone strikes in Pakistan.



On October 24, 2012, the PHC issued notices against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for allegedly permitting US and Nato forces to launch the drone campaign in tribal areas.

During the hearing on Wednesday, a division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth was informed by Deputy Attorney General Iqbal Mohmand on details of the drone strikes.

The bench was told that from 2008 to 2012, 147 drones were reported, in which at least 894 males, 35 females and 24 children were killed in NWA. Casualties included 48 foreigners, and another 46 males and two females.

Mohmand said 187 tribesmen, including 12 women and five children, have been severely wounded in drone strikes.

When the bench pushed for more data on collateral damage, Mohmand said it was difficult for the political administration to collect data considering the security situation.



Justice Khan observed the administration should have summoned families of victims to collect more information. He also questioned Mohmand as to when these strikes will end.  “We are not concerned with the foreigners, but with the local people. If they can pay blood money for Raymond Davis, they can do it here as well,”

He maintained the UN secretary general also asked to halt drone strikes due to evidence of widespread collateral damage.

DPC’s counsel Moazzam Butt requested the court to adjourn the hearing so the federal defence secretary can be summoned to respond to the court’s queries.

The bench then ordered political administrations of the North and South Waziristan agencies to submit a detailed reply by March 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.

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