Musharraf has no objection if government makes secret US 'drone deal' public

Peshawar, April 5(ANI): Former Pakistan president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has no objection if the public was informed about any secret deal with the United States regarding drone attacks, the Peshawar High Court has heard.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Miftahuddin Khan was hearing two writ petitions related to drone attacks.

Advocate Moazam Butt said Musharraf had no objection to the request for making the deal public, as he also believed that it was right of citizens to have access to important information.

He added that it would be upto the present government to inform the court about the facts regarding drone strikes, The Dawn reports.

He stressed that it was the fundamental right of petitioners as well as the general public to know about any secret deal between the two countries.

He revealed Musharraf had approached him to appear on his behalf in the case and added that he would submit his power of attorney on behalf of the former president at the next hearing.

During the course of proceedings, the Chief Justice observed that drone strikes was a complex issue and the court would like to know if there was any agreement between the two governments and if it was, for how long it would be applicable.

The Chief Justice expressed astonishment that the drone strikes were continuing to take place in the country despite being opposed by the president, who was the supreme commander of the armed forces, the prime minister, the chiefs of armed forces among others.

The court observed that it would look into the matter whether a country could interfere in the geographical boundaries of another country for killing its opponents and whether the same was permissible under national and international laws. (ANI)