Drones petition: LHC observes jurisdiction problem

"The Constitution do not allow courts to intervene in policy matters of the Executive," says CJ Lahore high court.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC), hearing a petition on Thursday against US drone strikes, asked the petitioner’s counsel to show how the court had jurisdiction to pass a restraining order.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the Constitution did not allow courts to intervene in policy matters of the Executive. The hearing was put off till Friday.

The petitioner, Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, has complained that the federal government had failed to implement a unanimous parliamentary resolution against drone strikes.

He has asked the court to declare pre-emptive strikes by foreign countries illegal.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2013.