Pakistan’s Supreme Court strikes down petition seeking end to US drone strikes in tribal areas

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has reportedly quashed a petition seeking an end to U.S. drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar struck down the petition filed by Syed Mohammad Iqtidar after observing that it did not fall within the ambit of Article 184(3) of the Constitution, which dealt with the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights.

The petitioner had argued that it was Pakistani Air Force’s duty to shoot down the unmanned aerial vehicles flying over the nation’s territory in order to protect its citizens.

He contended that the tribal areas were part of Pakistan and if the air strikes were allowed to continue in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas ( Fata), they might also extend to Lahore, Peshawar and other cities of the country.

The court however, said that it could not issue directions to start a war to put an end to drone attacks.

This is not the first time the apex court has dismissed petitions against U.S. drone attacks. Former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had earlier rejected a similar petition in September, 2013.