News
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Pakistan to lodge complain with UN against drones* Human Rights Ministry decides to file an official complain to Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
ISLAMABAD: Human Rights Ministry (HRM) has decided to take up matter of drone attacks with United Nations under international humanitarian law and file an official complain to Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Addressing a media briefing on Monday, Adviser to Prime Minister Mustafa Nawaz Khokar said the matter would be discussed with all stakeholders of the government after taking them on board an official complain will be lodged.
He categorically made it clear that drone strikes are not acceptable. He said so far the debate has only circled around loss of collateral damages and not about the specific legislation of the strikes in the light of international humanitarian law (law of war).
He explained that apart from being in violation of Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty, there was growing consensus among International law experts that these strikes can be aptly described as “Target Killing”, or “ExtraJudicial Killing” primarily because the targets are being ‘taken out’ without giving them opportunity to defend themselves in court of law.
This view is gaining ground in the international legal fraternity and is supported by various international treaties as well as United States’ own constitution.
Giving brief description of history of drone attacks, Mustafa Khokar, said the first drone attack was striked at Jordan and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, took serious notice and conveyed the government of US to explain their position in this regard. He opined the military action should be proportioned.
Mustafa mentioned that one does not have to be a legal expert to see that there is blatant disregard of International Law, Customary Law, treaties and conventions by the American administration.
The moral and legal obligations are being flouted by the US administration, he said, adding, complain regarding drone attacks has already been lodged with US several times but unfortunately it was not proved fruitful and the HRM has decided to take up this matter with UN.
Mustafa Khokar further said that a photo exhibition would start in London on Tuesday (today) titled “Gaming in Waziristan”, in which the snapshots of drone attacks victims, including corpses of children, women, clothes, shoes and other belongings of these people would be displayed to unveil the reality in front of international forums.
The adviser said that America and its allies record is questionable ranging from disrespecting the environmental treaties to torturing detainee and now extra-judicial killings. He hoped that as the UN Special Rapporteur is considering the matter, Pakistan’s official communication in this regard might prove to be highly productive. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk