Drone Strikes: ‘Court should appoint an amicus curie’

Saeed is seeking ‘an end to the drone strikes’ on Pakistani soil.

Saeed’s petition states, “a state, which cannot protect its citizens, is a “failed state”. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE:


The Lahore High Court on Thursday adjourned till May 21 the hearing of a petition challenging drone attacks on Pakistani soil.



The petition has been filed by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief. On Thursday, a deputy attorney general again proposed that the court appoint an amicus curie (friend of court) to assist it on the “sensitive issue”. The government representative had earlier said that the areas where drone attacks were being carried out were out of the jurisdiction of the court. The objection was overruled by LHC chief justice.

Saeed is seeking ‘an end to the drone strikes’ on Pakistani soil. His counsel submitted that the government was making no efforts to curb the drone attacks, in which innocent civilians were killed. Saeed’s petition states, “a state, which cannot protect its citizens, is a “failed state”.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013. 
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