A Pakistani court on Tuesday dismissed a petition against US drone attacks inside Pakistan, reports our Pakistan correspondent.
The Obama administration regards missile attacks as a key weapon against Al Qaeda and the Taliban close to the Afghan border. Earlier this month, Al Qaeda’s reputed No. 3 official, Mustafa al-Yazid, was killed in a similar strike in the North Waziristan region. There have been more than 35 missile strikes this year alone, the highest tempo since the attacks began in earnest in 2008.
The Lahore high court was approached to order registration of cases against those responsible — ostensibly the government — for US drone attacks inside Pakistan.
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Court seeks info on presidential house violation
Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Tuesday directed to present all the information which may prove that President Asif Ali Zardari illegally used the Presidential House as the co-chairman of ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), reports our Pakistan correspondent.
A five-member full bench of Lahore high court (LHC) headed by Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry issued the directives during the hearing of petitions filed against the dual role of the President.
The bench directed A.K. Dogar Advocate to prove that President’s House is no more the symbol of the Federation and instead, it is being used as a centre of a particularly party — as claimed by the petitioners.
Mr Dogar said in his arguments that it is incumbent on the judiciary to stem the violations of the Constitution, alleging President Zardari is employing President’s House for political motives.
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Petraeus passes out during Senate hearing
Washington: Gen. David Petraeus appeared to pass out on Tuesday during a Senate hearing, but revived after a few seconds and left the room under his own power.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Petraeus, 57, had finished answering a question by Senator John McCain. Mr McCain was responding when the senator stopped talking suddenly and aides began crowding around Gen. Petraeus.
Gen. Petraeus rose without assistance and was then escorted quickly out of the room. His spokesman could not be immediately reached. —AP