File photo of Karim Khan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed police to register a case if there is cognisable offence against an ex-US Central Investigation Agency’s (CIA) station chief, for his alleged role in a surgical strike that killed the family members of an anti-drone activist.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of IHC was hearing the petition filed by Haji Abdul Karim Khan, a native of Mirali, North Waziristan, who requested the court to register an FIR against the former CIA official for killing innocent civilians in drone strikes including members of his family.
During Thursday’s hearing, the Station House Officer (SHO), Shalimar police admitted that the offence was cognizable. However, Deputy Attorney General (DAG), IHC Fazalur Rehman Niazi, contended that the petition is not maintainable as it does not fall under the capital’s jurisdiction.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, maintained that the former CIA chief was responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians including the petitioner’s son and his brother, who were killed in 2009.
Despite several attempts local police officials have refused to register an FIR against the former top spy, who left Pakistan in December 2010, Akbar added.
With little hope that the former CIA official will ever return to Pakistan to face charges, Karim, who had lost his teenage son, urged the government to implement the court’s order.
“I am very happy at the court’s instructions and am hopeful that the government would implement the verdict,” Karim Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune.
Karim’s comments came hours after Justice Siddiqui ordered police officials to register a criminal case for offences of murder, conspiracy, and waging war against Pakistan under the provisions of Terrorism Act 1997 against the former US spy chief stationed in the country.
The activist claimed that he started his campaign against the US drone strikes in 2010 and since then the Islamabad Police has been dodging complaints against the CIA officials, who were allegedly involved in orchestrating the covert strikes.
“I advise the US government to respect the Pakistani court’s order like they do in their own country,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.
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