A Pakistani court on Thursday ordered police to register a criminal case under Terrorism Act against two former CIA officials, including a station chief for murder, conspiracy, and waging war against the country by carrying out drone strikes.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court ordered registration of case for offences of murder, conspiracy, waging war against Pakistan and offences under the provisions of Terrorism Act 1997 against the former CIA station chief in Islamabad, Jonathan Banks, and legal Counsel John A Rizzo.
The order was passed on a petition filed by Kareem Khan, a resident of North Waziristan Agency who had lost his teenage son and brother in a drone strike. Khan started his legal campaign to get justice in 2010. “This order is a victory for the innocent civilians who have been killed in US-led drone strikes in Pakistan and as a citizen of Pakistan I feel reaffirmed that people like me from Waziristan might also be able to get justice for the wrongs being done to them,” Khan said, adding that “I hope that authorities will now do their job and proceed against the culprits.” Khan’s lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar said under Pakistani and International laws the US officials are committing murder through drone strikes.