PHOTO: AFP/FILE
“The US drone strikes have no consent from the Government of Pakistan, no transparency in their choice of targets and no legality in this conflict," the MEP observed after a high level hearing on US drone strikes in Pakistan held in the European Parliament in Brussels.
The hearing was chaired by Karim who also serves as the Conservative Legal Affairs spokesperson for the European Parliament.
The MEP further stated that, "US drone killings in Pakistan casts an even darker shadow with the Pakistani government,” explicitly reiterating that Pakistan had not consented to these strikes.
Ambassador of Pakistan to the European Union Munawar Bhatti echoed the British MEP's sentiments.
"We regard drone strikes as illegal in international law, counterproductive and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity."
The issues of legality and transparency were key concerns for many of the other speakers as well.
Deptuy director of Reprieve Hilary Stauffer was critical of the use of signature drone strikes, which often target people based on certain suspicious movements. "No one knows what makes you a target. That is why no one (in drone strike areas) is going about their daily lives," she observed during the hearing.
Karim ended the hearing by calling on the international community to address the situation immediately.
“If we do not address guidelines and legislation for this modern era of warfare then our future looks very bleak indeed."
Earlier on Thursday, the Peshawar High Court declared that US drones strikes are against UN charter and the Geneva Convention, and said that they challenged the sovereignty of Pakistan.
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How many members does the European Parliament have? How much power in Europe's foreign policy do those members have? We are expert in picking and choosing the statements out of thousands of members of parliament of various European countries. This news if true is embarrassing that so many foreigners know so much about the internal policies of Pakistan.
Britain is a country of influence. That brings responsibility. I commend british MEP speaking out on the issue of drones while fulfilling that responsibility.
I understand why the British Pakistani made the speech - I don't understand why he made it to the European Parliament who's primary job is to manage the EU budget and who's influence on foreign policy is largely limited to approving developmental aid. No doubt the European Parliament gets a number of "off topic" speeches from it's members which now total over 750.
US drones don't have permission from the Pakistan government. But terrorists that inhabit this dreary land of blood obviously do.
@Water Bottle, a sensible and courageous person's loyalty should not be on the basis of food and shelter like that of some animals'. Instead, it should be on the basis of righteousness. The champions of human rights and civility whom you seem to be advocating for have caused a lot more suffering to humanity, yet no body has the courage to bell the cat.
That explains why the drones were mostly taking off from bases inside Pakistan.
Sajjad Karim should be loyal to the land that feeds him bread and stop supporting the Islamist terrorists who are hellbent on destroying everything civil on this earth.
Sajjad Karim that pretty much sums up