Recalling court orders: PTI re-demands an end to drone strikes

Peshawar High Court had directed the govt to ask US to stop drone attacks.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has again demanded the implementation of order given by a superior court to stop drone strikes in the country. Peshawar High Court had directed the government to ask United States to stop drone attacks earlier this year.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday, his party felt vindicated again with the publication of the Amnesty International report on drones, entitled “Will I be Next: US Drone Strikes in Pakistan”.

“It [report] suggests that these unlawful killings could amount to war crimes,” Imran pointed out in his official statement. The report also said the US must be held accountable for drone killings in Pakistan. Last week, United Nations findings also indicated that US drone strikes have killed at least 400 civilians in Pakistan, far more than the US has ever acknowledged.



PTI chairman reminded his party has consistently mentioned that drones were an assault on Pakistan’s sovereignty and a violation of international laws including human rights.

The illegal and unilateralist US policy of using drones to kill people in Pakistan is absolutely unacceptable and the federal government should ensure that this unlawful act by Washington is stopped immediately, PTI demanded.

“All political parties have given mandate to government for stopping drone strikes over Fata, and the PML-N had itself committed to doing the same if elected to power. Now the time has come to implement the APC mandate and their electoral commitment,” Imran added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.