Taking it further: ‘Obama should be nominated in Hangu drone strike FIR’

'By targeting a seminary in Hangu, the US has proved it can carry out an attack anywhere in the country,' says Haq.

MARDAN:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should nominate United States (US) President Barack Obama in the FIR filed against the drone strike in Hangu, said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami and Defence Council of Pakistan (DPC) Chief, Samiul Haq on Sunday. “The government should immediately issue orders to shoot down drones.”

Sami, while talking to media at Mardan Press Club, said the security forces of Pakistan took an oath to secure the country’s borders. The May 13 decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) gives clear directives to shoot down drones, and that it should be implemented, argued the DPC chief. He added by not accepting the decision the government is in contempt of court.



“By targeting a seminary in Hangu, the US has proved it can carry out an attack anywhere in the country.” Sami implored the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan to take suo motu action over US drone strikes.

Sami said he submitted a writ petition from the platform of the DPC against drone strikes at the SC on November 29, 2011. However, at the time, the registrar argued the Federally Administered Tribal Areas does not come under their jurisdiction.

“After the 18th Amendment, though, the area now comes under the jurisdiction of PHC and SC,” he added.

The DPC chief said he will submit a writ petition against drone strikes once again in the coming week, adding drone strikes could come to an end if political parties join hands.

Sami said his party supports Imran Khan and if Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman raised his voice against drones, he would also support him. “We just want to put an end to these attacks which are violating the sovereignty of our country,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.