Drone attack matters to discuss with UN: MoHR

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) has decided to take up issues 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 here on Monday, Advisor 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) and how these strikes are being viewed by criminal jurists around the globe.

He explained that apart from being in violation of Pakistan's territorial sovereignty, there is growing consensus among International law Experts that these strikes can be aptly described as "Target Killing", or "Extra Judicial 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 stroked at Jordan and the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, took serious notice and conveyed the government of United States to explain their position in this regard. He opined the military action should be proportioned.

The Advisor 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.

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 MoHR has decided to take up this matter with UN.

Mustafa Khokar further said that a photo exhibition would start in London on Tuesday (September 20) 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 advisor added that America and its allies cannot preach respect of human rights when their own 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.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011