Islamabad, July 17: Pakistan's move to approach the
International Court of Justice seeking $ 60.2 million reparation from India for the downing of its naval aircraft Atlantique in Gujarat three years ago has been questioned in
the Lahore High Court on the ground that it caused public
exchequer a loss of Rs 2.43 crore.
A two-member bench of the court comprising M Javed Bhuttar and Justice Jamshed Ali Shah yesterday asked the deputy attorney general Sher Zaman Khan to file a reply within
a month on the appeal by advocate M D Tahir.
Tahir, in his petition said the "ill advice" given to the
government to move the ICJ at The Hague seeking the reparation
has caused the financial loss to the tune of Rs 2.43 crore to
the public exchequer.
The ICJ in April 2000 dismissed the Pakistani suit saying
it has no jurisdiction over the matter.
The appeal was filed after a single-bench of the court on
July 3 had dismissed a writ petition on the issue.
The Pakistani maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine
warfare aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force fighter
jets when it intruded 10 kms inside Indian territory in the
Gujarat's Kori creek area, killing 16 personnel on board in
August 1999.
Bureau Report
