File photo of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) Provincial President Maulana Yousuf Shah and former deputy speaker provincial assembly Ikramullah Shahid filed the petition.
The PHC had passed an order in May declaring drone strikes ‘war crimes’. However,drone strikes continue in tribal and adjoining areas.
The PM and secretary for the ministry of interior were named as respondents.
The petition stated the PHC order of May 9, termed the drone strikes a ‘war crime’ and against the sovereignty of the country. The court had directed the government to raise the issue at the United Nations (UN) and to seek compensation for victims of drone attacks.
“If drone strikes are not stopped through diplomatic channels then the federal government needs to shoot down the unmanned aircraft that has been violating the airspace of the country,” the petition read, quoting the PHC’s previous order.
It added seven months have passed since the order and any action by the federal government is yet to be seen.
“Innocent people are killed in drone strikes which also cause huge property losses to residents of the tribal areas,” the petition read. The PM, who is the chief executive of the country, is liable to contempt of court proceedings for not following clear orders of the PHC on drone strikes, it added. It further stated that under Article 204, along with the PM, other concerned officials are also liable of contempt of court
Speaking to journalists after submitting the petition, Defence Council of Pakistan (DPC) Chairperson and JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq said Peshawar, Islamabad and Karachi were not safe after the recent drone strike in Hangu.
“The DPC had filed a petition at the PHC on November 5, 2011, on which a comprehensive verdict was announced in May this year. The federal government, however, chose to ignore the order which is why contempt of court proceedings need to be initiated against them,” said Samiul Haq.
The verdict further directed the government to take up the case in the United Nations Security Council and in case the US uses its veto powers, an urgent meeting of the UN General Assembly be called to resolve the issue effectively.
It also stated in case all diplomatic channels fail to bring about the desired result, Pakistan must sever all ties with US and as a mark of protest deny it all logistic and other facilities within Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
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