January 27, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 07, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Former ISI chief Lt-Gen (retd) Hameed Gul on Friday moved the Supreme Court to demand an inquiry into the US-led coalition forces attack in the Shawal area of North Waziristan in which a Pakistani soldier was killed.

The coalition forces in Afghanistan had fired on a Pakistani border post killing one Frontier Constabulary soldier and wounding two others. Pakistan had lodge a strong protest with coalition authorities on the incident and asked them to ensure such incidents were not repeated.

Filed under fundamental rights of the Supreme Court, Hameed Gul contended that it was the constitutional duty of the government to protect fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan that also included the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. “The people of Fata are the citizens of Pakistan and it is the responsibility of the government to protect their lives and property,” he said.

The petition pleaded before the court to order an inquiry into the allied forces attack and direct the government for paying compensation to heirs of the killed soldier.

The petition also called for halting the military operation in the tribal areas.

Advocate Mohammad Ikram Chaudhry, who filed the petition on behalf of Hameed Gul, later told reporters that his client had also prayed before the court to direct the government to end all agreements with Nato and the US which hampered protecting interests and rights of people.

The federal government, ministries of interior, foreign affairs and defence, Chief of the Army Staff and the NWFP governor are respondents in the petition.