IHC orders to restore FIR against CIA chief

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed to restore a first information report (FIR) against the then American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station chief in Islamabad and legal adviser regarding the US drone attack in an area of Mirali in 2009.

The court dismissed the move of Chief Commissioner Islamabad and police for quashing the FIR against the American CIA chief for hatching a conspiracy to conduct the drone attack in Pakistani area.

IHC's Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard the case filed by a citizen Mirza Shahzad Akber challenging the quashment of FIR by the police. Advocate General Abdul Rauf appeared before the court on behalf of the federation.

During the course of proceedings, Justice Siddiqui asked the station house office (SHO) concerned as to whether the court had ordered to quash the FIR after its registration. SHO Nawaz Bhatti, however, apologized to the court.

The court observed that some elements indulged in propaganda against state institutions but they did not dare to speak CIA and other foreign agencies.

Justice Siddiqui remarked it was contempt of court that the court had ordered to register the FIR, but the matter was sent to another forum.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Islamabad Mir Waaz informed the court that the venue of the incident (Mirali) was a disruptive area.

Justice Siddiqui questioned whether the drone attacks inside Pakistani territory were not a violation of its borders. The then CIA chief in Islamabad had hatched a conspiracy of launching drone attacks, he added.

The DIG adopted the stance that the police had contacted the Foreign Office to seek guidelines for investigation of drone attacks incidents.

The court, however, directed the police to restore FIR and disposed off the petition.