June 19, 2013 | Shaba'an 9, 1434


PHC serves notice to Musharraf for allowing drone attacks

Zahir Shah Sherazi
Updated 2012-10-24 20:25:51

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General (r) Pervez Musharraf. – File photo

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued a notice to former Pakistani President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf for allowing drone attacks in the tribal areas while the Additional Political Agent North Waziristan Agency Zahidurdin Babar submitted the details of loses caused in drone strikes from 2008 to 2012 in sealed form.

A two-member bench comprising acting Chief Justice Justice Maftahuddin Khan and Justice Seth Waqar hearing a petition by Advocate FM Sabir served notice on President Pervez Musharraf to appear before the court on next hearing to explain his position.

Advocate Sabir of Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) and Foundation for Fundamental Rights (FFR) had filed a writ petition against the drone attacks in Fata and the killing of innocent people including women and children in these attacks.

The PHC bench in the last hearing on September 21 had directed the political authorities to provide complete details of the people killed in the drone strikes by October 23.

North Waziristan’s Additional Political Agent (APA) Babar during the last hearing had pleaded before the court that due to the law and order problem the political authorities could not move around in the troubled areas so the compiling of complete details was a bit difficult.

The Chief Justice Dost Mohammad had also rejected the APA’s plea on September 22 to meet in chamber and had summoned the political agent on Oct 24 and had asked to provide details to the court about the drone affectees.

Earlier on August 15 the PHC had also sought a detailed report from the government regarding losses due to drone strikes in Fata.

The APA Babar had earlier presented a report regarding human and material losses due to drone attacks in the Fata till 2008 but terming the report incomplete, the chief justice Dost Muhammad Khan had said that the report doesn’t show the ages of the deceased and the details of destruction caused by the missile strikes.

The APA compiled the remaining details of the losses caused by drone strikes from 2008 to 2012 on October 24, Wednesday.

During the last hearing, the high court had directed the federal government and the political agents of North and South Waziristan agencies to provide details of the US drone strikes in their respective areas, including the number of such attacks, names and number of people killed by them and other collateral damage.

The court had also directed the federal government to provide attested copies of resolution passed by the parliament and the minutes of the cabinet’s defence committee on drone attacks.

It had also directed deputy attorney general (DAG) Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand to provide details of the protests lodged by the Foreign Office to the US government against these strikes and the follow-up to them.

The government had apprised the PHC earlier that there was no verbal or written agreement between Pakistan and the US allowing drone attacks so these attacks were a clear violation of country’s sovereignty.

During October 24 hearing Sabir Advocate had pleaded that Musharraf was not appearing in the case so his arrest warrants must be issued.

The two member bench headed by acting CJ Justice Miftahuddin however, served a notice on former president Musharraf.

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Comments are closed.

Comments (51)

Cyrus Howell
October 25, 2012 10:06 pm
Good point.
BigdaddyUSA
October 25, 2012 12:58 am
Thank god for him! The current military and police are intertwined with the Taliban so they will never get anything done to move your country foward.
KHAN
October 25, 2012 12:32 am
AGREE 100%.I wish the poor people can understand that,and rally against this CJ who has crossed the limits in supporting some politicians and Army.He is the most corrupt and characterless judge in the history of pakistan.
Ahmer
October 24, 2012 9:54 pm
The number of drone attacks has gone up after Mushharraf handed the baton over to Kayani.
Ahmer
October 24, 2012 9:51 pm
And how about Gen Kayani?
Khan Usafzai
October 24, 2012 9:24 pm
The Generals are above law in Pakistan ….
Khan Usafzai
October 24, 2012 9:23 pm
The Generals are above law in Pakistan ....
Anony
October 24, 2012 9:10 pm
So will Zardari also be held accountable for the drone strikes that happened during his tenure?
Ali Shallwani
October 24, 2012 7:31 pm
Easier said then done! Once you start something, it is very hard to stop - especially if you are dealing with a superpower, who is giving billions in aid. I believe Musharaf should have had some guts, instead of caving in to every U.S. demand. Agreed, they threatened him with putting Pakistan in the stone ages, but let's face it. We are talking about a country with nuclear warheads - we are not Afghanistan or Iraq. I am sure Zardari could possibly try to change the course of action - and don't get me wrong - I am not a fan of Zardari, however, I believe Musharaf literally sold Pakistan to the Americans. This is my take on this!
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 5:17 pm
He is the only patriot in Pakistan.
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 5:15 pm
Your people are still looking for a savior.
I.A.Khan
October 24, 2012 5:08 pm
Please stop passing buck by blaming Musharaf for present Govt incompetency. Country was much better off during Musharaf era and he brought more reforms and prosperity in the country than any other ruler in Pakistan.
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 5:03 pm
People can say no to anything, but your government is not listening.
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 5:00 pm
Because they just want to close their eyes and make it all go away.
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 4:59 pm
It is a charade. They are not running the country. They don't know how.
Cyrus Howell
October 24, 2012 4:57 pm
Someone must be blamed, but not us.
iqbal Khan
October 24, 2012 4:55 pm
President Musharaf was the best President after President Ayub.If PHC should serve notice to Zardari and Kayani for these attacks.I fully support these attacks as somebody need to kill these terrorists if Pakistan can't.Just wondering why good guys hang around with the bad guys out there if they are so concern about their safety and if they are giving refuge to these criminals then they should not complain about attacks.I have to worry about 40,000 Pakistanis killed by these people and also the suffering of millions of Pakistanis due to talban's menace.
No hope.
October 24, 2012 4:38 pm
People talk about Americans using drones,maybe this Pakistani useless government is allowing the Americans to do their job,maybe thats why they haven't stopped them and just maybe they are just playing this concerned game but behind closed doors they are supporting the Americans.
akhter husain
October 24, 2012 4:26 pm
May be they got the permission now and therefore the notice.
Jamal
October 24, 2012 4:10 pm
I am not a PPP fan, but what you have said is easier said than done. It is not easy to undo the follies of previous governments especially when you are dealing with the US who has not forgotten 9/11/2011 and will not let is happen again at any cost.
KCK
October 24, 2012 4:08 pm
President of Pakistan enjoys immunity of all actions and cases which may have taken place during holding of teh office. Does former President Pervez Musharraf enjoys immunity of all actions he inacted during his term as a President of Pakitsan in the same manner as President Zardari? Can President Zarzari terminate the agreement of allowing drone attacks on Pakistan soil?
Agha Asad Raza
October 24, 2012 4:01 pm
This is a joke!!! Hasn't PHC got anything better to do?
Iqbal
October 24, 2012 3:40 pm
I thought Presidents are immune from court proceedings ......
sali
October 24, 2012 2:58 pm
Every day there is a new joke from the government. Why not serve him a notice for fixing and running the best economy between 2002-2007, avoiding a full fledge war with US, making media free, opening the door for women.... I think only thing that Musharraf should be held responsible for doing NRO and allowing corrupt & incompetent polticians to return. This is all to keep him out of coming back.
akhter husain
October 24, 2012 2:49 pm
Strange logic.
Masood Hussain
October 24, 2012 2:07 pm
It is an utterly futile attemt at gimmicry.When barbaric Talibans don't stop killing innocent people,men,women and childeren, destroy schools,hospitals,residentiol buildings there must be some serious preventive measures to stop them from doing it. Itis awar and every effective step is to be considered.In view of the difficult terrain other alternative approach is carpet bombardment which we know will cause greater destruction.
Nasir
October 24, 2012 2:04 pm
This is the delima of Pakistan that one who outside the country is found guilty, however the other corrupt people are moving without fear.
Ishrat salim
October 24, 2012 2:00 pm
Right ! even he permitted under some compulsion, what has stopped the present govt to stop it ? make comparison to loss prior to 2008 and today ? ask people in the street, are they happy today or 4.5 years ago ? then speak which period was better, till then it is useless to condem anybody.
Haseeb
October 24, 2012 1:56 pm
PHC, please issue notices to present govt. too. It is wiser act as compared to issuing notice to 4 year old past. More people died in present regime as compared to older regime.
Riaz
October 24, 2012 1:55 pm
If Musharraf allowed it, why did our so-called "civilian government" and "democratic government" didn't stop them after coming into the power? PHC face the truth that it is not under Pakistan's control ... be it Musharraf or Zardari ... you need to serve the notice over to US for it! Send a red-waarant against US government for killing people in Pakistan ... can you? No you can't!
Michael Malcolm
October 24, 2012 1:45 pm
Desperate attempt by PPP government and Allieds to keep Mushrraf outside the country. If Musharraf gave permission then why Zardari and company have it stopped. If someone starts the fire others can stop it.
Imran A.
October 24, 2012 1:39 pm
They (all terrorists and their apologists) fear Musharaf down to their guts. It takes them 5 years to decide to writ a petition against him. What a joke!! They are afraid if he comes back, he will destroy their terrorist empires. It's pretty clear they are afraid of both M's Musharaf and Malala.
Kurri
October 24, 2012 1:33 pm
It sad that family dies with these criminals, but why these people make thier own family a shiled?
Don
October 24, 2012 1:20 pm
I can tell a million things that this government has to do and should do to make the lives better of the people who are still alive. Do those first and than after you get all that things fixed you can talk about Musharraf.
Don
October 24, 2012 1:16 pm
Please stop talking about the past and try to concentrate on the present and future. This government is incapable of stopping the drones themselves and keep pointing fingers on the old administration. As far as i am concerned now the past government was 100 times better than this democratic government.
iqbal Khan
October 24, 2012 12:59 pm
Dont worry iron man is doing fine.This country doesn't deserve him.
MAK
October 24, 2012 12:50 pm
Let us hold Zardari equally responsible. Drones attack continue with the tacit approval of establishment.Nation is entitled to know the extent of collateral damage.Why wouldn't government allow an impartial inquiry into the loss of life & property?
somro
October 24, 2012 12:49 pm
I agree no one is above law, but there is no justice as long as we have the current CJ in place.
AC1960
October 24, 2012 12:45 pm
What a non-sense action by the PHC, another way of getting publicity like suo moto actions on well publicized cases, without ever achieving final result. Do we have a choice to say no to Drone attacks or anything else where USA is involved. We need to first make a choice what we want and then look what needs to be done.
shaukat
October 24, 2012 12:41 pm
This is like making a joke of our nation. Serving notices to a person who is not incharge of the situation for last five years. What is the role of the present Govt and why they have not stoppped the drone attacks. The reason is that all the officials and politicians beleive that the drone attacks are required as it is admitted that no body can freely go in these areas because of law and order situation. That is importat to note for all of us that at least someone is doing our task.
Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany
October 24, 2012 12:23 pm
Do not agree that Musharraf has been the best leader so far. But that is not the debate. If Musharraf allowed the Drone attacks, what is stopping the present rulers and Army chief from calling them off. If Musharraf is to be tried, the present rulers have to be tried too. As a matter of fact they have been promoting further attacks, to suit their own policies.
amarpita
October 24, 2012 12:22 pm
I fully agree, Musharraf deserves a severe punishment for allowing drone attacks, which killed some civilians. However he deserves reward for killing of terrorists too, who otherwise would have killed lakhs of civilians. Now the question is Saving lakhs at the cost of few hundred deserves reward or punishment.
Agha Ata (USA)
October 24, 2012 12:02 pm
Former Pakistani President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf is regarded as a good politician by many, had committed big blunders during his rule. He may have been a good soldier, but was a lousy politician. The only credit he deserves is the freedom to the media he allowed. Sometimes I wonder if he did it by mistake!
A s ahmed
October 24, 2012 11:59 am
Musharraf has committed huroundous crimes against his own citizens and against human rights. This commando general is a coward, he hiding like a coward and is afraid to come back to Pakistan and face charges like a man. Nobody is above law, he should get his day in court.
Muhammad
October 24, 2012 11:32 am
I totally disagree with Peshawar High Court. They should first decide the validity of the case, instead of asking for details of the losses. How can you prosecute the president for allowing drones by the US? Can you prosecute the president for ordering war, because some people got killed? It does not make sense.
raju
October 24, 2012 11:31 am
Where is this iron man turned clay man now??????????
Muhammad
October 24, 2012 11:24 am
No, it does not make any sense. Please read my comment above.
Muhammad
October 24, 2012 11:22 am
What is happening in Pakistan is just ridiculous. Pervez Musharraf has been the best leader of Pakistan so far. In his period, Pakistan made more progress than all other periods combined. He was the best person to represent Pakistan in the world. He made some mistakes, but still overall he is better than any other politician on the horizon. Any businessman in Pakistan will attest to this fact. It is even more ridiculous to prosecute him for allowing drone attacks while he was president. Drone attacks are still going on, even more frequently than before. Any government after Musharraf never stopped them so far. As a matter of fact, they just cannot do anything about it. Should we prosecute the present government for failing to stop drone attacks? In view of what TTP and other terrorists are doing to the people of Pakistan, drone attacks should not be stopped, because drones are the only control over TTP right now. US appears to be fighting Pakistan's war against TTP and terrorism, for which Pakistan should be thankful to US.
msm
October 24, 2012 10:40 am
Why it took so long to issued the notice?
Tahir
October 24, 2012 10:34 am
Do the judges have anything better to do than interfering in the duties of the execuitive of the Country or they just want to take up anything worth of some cheap popularity?
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