Lahore: A Pakistani court on Friday gave the
federal government another opportunity to submit its reply to
a petition filed by Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
seeking the implementation of a parliamentary resolution
against US drone attacks.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court was
informed that a Deputy Attorney General was to represent the
government in court but failed to appear as he was unwell.
The judge was requested by the government to give it time
to submit a response and he postponed the hearing of the
petition till October 13.
During several recent hearings, the court had given
opportunities to the government to file its response but it
had disregarded the court's directions.
The petition was filed by Saeed through his counsel A K
Dogar.
Saeed asked the court to direct the government to make
public information in all matters of public importance,
especially "secret deals" with the US.
He further asked the court to declare that pre-emptive
strikes on Pakistani soil by foreign countries are not
permitted by international law and therefore, everyone had the
right to claim to be protected.
The JuD chief contended that the resolution passed by a
joint session of the two houses of parliament after the US
raid against Osama bin Laden in May was the voice of the
people and needs to be implemented.
Saeed's counsel Dogar told the court that the President,
Prime Minister and all state functionaries should be made to
follow the simple life of Prophet Mohammed and asked to vacate
their official residences.
PTI
First Published: Friday, October 07, 2011, 22:47