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QUETTA: Family members of deceased taxi driver Muhammad Azam who was killed in an American drone strike in Balochistan earlier this month filed a First-Information Report (FIR) against the United States on Sunday.
The FIR with was lodged by Azam's brother, Muhammad Qasim, at the Mal Levies station with the Mal tehsildar in the Noshki district.
In the FIR Qasim stated that his brother drove a taxi from Taftan to Quetta, and on May 5 Azam’s vehicle was blown up in Kochaki area of Noshki.
Azam was killed in a drone strike targeting Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansour near Quetta. He was the driver of the car the Taliban leader was travelling in.
His family members said Azam, a father of four children, was the sole earner in his family. They called for action to be taken against the US officials responsible for the drone strike.
“My brother was innocent and extremely poor. He had four children and was the sole bread earner of the family,” Qasim stated in the FIR.
“US officials killed my brother while violating the Pakistani area. I do not know the names of US officials, but I want justice to be served,” the FIR reads.
"We want justice," Azam's uncle, Haji Khuda-i-Nazar, told DawnNews on Sunday. "We want to bring the perpetrators of the drone strike to justice. My nephew Muhammad Azam was innocent and had no links to any terror group."
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On DawnNews
Comments (66) Closed
May 29, 2016 03:35pm
Feel sorry for his family, but there will always be some collateral damage in such strikes.
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May 29, 2016 03:40pm
Waste of time. Nothing is going to happen!
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May 29, 2016 03:43pm
And then what?
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May 29, 2016 03:58pm
good luck
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May 29, 2016 03:58pm
Excellent. Let's see if the champions of human rights give justice to this poor family. I hope HRW or some other human rights group in the West picks up the case of this family and go after the US govt.
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May 29, 2016 03:59pm
Good...wouldnt an american have done the same if tables were turned!
western world thinks life is cheap here
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May 29, 2016 04:00pm
Collateral damage will always be there in wars.
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May 29, 2016 04:07pm
At best they will get some money. Sad
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May 29, 2016 04:22pm
@Junaid Foreign governments can only be sued in certain international courts. Otherwise it is a meaningless exercise, like trying to shoot down a B-52 bomber at 55000 ft, with a shoulder-held RPG.
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May 29, 2016 04:37pm
Killing people in any other country is not a matter of concern for the super power.
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May 29, 2016 04:40pm
@lyra "Waste of time. Nothing is going to happen!"
This is why I believe in the day of judgement where ONLY power will belong to God and EVERYONE will get justice for this life even if it be weight of an atom.
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May 29, 2016 04:46pm
but country has liberal policy towards terror
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May 29, 2016 04:50pm
If it was possible to sue a foreign government in Pakistan, -- especially an arrogant US government -- you have to then ask why thousands of other families in Pakistan who were victims of drone attacks in the country over the past 13 years have not taken any action?
Or why the Saudis, Somalis, Yemenis, Iraqi, Syrians, Libyans, Vietnamese, and hundreds of thousands of others, who lost a loved one to US or NATO attacks have not bothered to file a claim against all Western governments whose actions made them widows and orphans over the past 100 years???
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May 29, 2016 04:53pm
I am so glad that they are aware of their right and have to courage to challenge the status quo.
My heart goes out to the bereaved family and many other like this victim of drone strikes. May you find justice, internal peace and solace.
More power to you guyz.
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May 29, 2016 04:54pm
You can get justice if you are innocent and if your govt has bones.
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May 29, 2016 04:55pm
United States of Pakistan!
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May 29, 2016 05:06pm
@lyra why so much pessimism. this poor taxi driver didn't know who he was transporting. Pakistani people including us in the online world and the legal services should support this poor taxi drivers family in this endeavour. He was innocent and deserves to be supported!
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May 29, 2016 05:16pm
It is critical that number of innocent killed are published widely in international media and such legal actions are taken assertively. Why to accept all this innocent human loss without any resistance? Otherwise, there is no limit! This is the least Pakistant Govt can easily do.
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May 29, 2016 05:20pm
USA, killing innocent people, waging war on weak and poor countries, supporting dictators around the world for last 100 years.
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May 29, 2016 05:30pm
@Tamil Guru heartless indian comment.
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May 29, 2016 05:39pm
@charu the americans took Raymond Davis out of Pakistan...and the Pakistani authorities let them do it as the Saudis paid the Blood Money on behalf of Mr. Davis.
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May 29, 2016 06:28pm
This case can be taken up by Pakistan state against USA on behalf of its national with International Court of Justice seeking justice and adequate compensation for the victim's family. I am sure America in order to avoid internationalising of the case, will agree for out of court settlement would surely benefit the family of the driver.
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May 29, 2016 06:40pm
Family of driver killed in Mullah Mansour drone strike files FIR against US... good try... we don resolve cases in our own country... best luck
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May 29, 2016 06:46pm
@Khilari o come on. the guy is the driver for the taliban.
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May 29, 2016 06:48pm
Go for Nothing less than $2-billion.
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May 29, 2016 07:05pm
Weren't the defense forces of the country supposed to ensure that this does strike does not take place?
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May 29, 2016 07:16pm
If US citizen can proceed against govt of KSA for 9/11 then it is more than logical to sue govt of USA. Lets see whether the New York times will pick the headlines. Best reponse by a Pakistani
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May 29, 2016 07:25pm
@lafanga where would like to use your atom?
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May 29, 2016 07:32pm
@Starzan
"Go for Nothing less than $2-billion"
When the result is the same, why not ask for a Trillion$ ??
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May 29, 2016 07:35pm
Far more appropriate that Pakistan State file a case of war crimes and crimes against humanity against the US for what it has done in Pakistan and around the world to innocent civilians especially to Muslims.
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May 29, 2016 07:48pm
@hitesh ; Until it's your own kid!
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May 29, 2016 07:49pm
the family of the taxi driver deserves some consideration
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May 29, 2016 08:15pm
Brother lodges FIR? Where is the wife?
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May 29, 2016 08:15pm
He didnt deserve this end.
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May 29, 2016 08:19pm
Who hired the taxi and on what guarantee ? Who owned the taxi?
Nobody can agree without sufficient sureties to undertake such a difficult journey for transporting someone from Iran to Quetta, a distance of over a thousand kilometers in hostile wilderness?
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May 29, 2016 08:36pm
@manish you don't know this language.it will happen after this world.
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May 29, 2016 08:43pm
@M.Saeed my naive friend, their is a taxi stand at the crossing of Taftan where you can hire a taxi. Try it some day.
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May 29, 2016 08:51pm
Reminds me of the recent US legislation allowing the 9/11 vicitms to sue SA. In this case the perpetrators of the murder have openly acknowledged the act. Demands of a public apology and heavy compensation should be an ideal place to start of the proceedings.
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May 29, 2016 08:54pm
@Tamil Guru : In that case, there should be apology and proper compensation for the innocent victims family
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May 29, 2016 09:05pm
I think they should be suing the Pak Armed forces and the COAS because ultimately they are the keepers of the country's defences.
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May 29, 2016 09:20pm
Oh com'on driver must be a poor guy and in this world who cares if the poor person dies... move on friends to next story..
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May 29, 2016 09:39pm
@amit he was driving a taxi, and no where in the world cab drivers ask their customers for police clearance
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May 29, 2016 10:17pm
Could feel the power of invisible hands in this case. I very much doubt if the Driver's family knew the international laws ! Any way it was a tragic death...
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May 29, 2016 10:23pm
His lawyer should take his case to ICJ.
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May 29, 2016 10:26pm
It is only symbolic but symbols matter in Pakistan, especially in the time of crisis.
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May 29, 2016 10:29pm
@Alla Bux Too grieve stricken. When my brother died, I took care of all the arrangements for my sister in law as she was not in a state to do anything. If you have ever lost a loved one, you'd understand. IF you have not, just wait. Your turn will come sooner or later.
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May 29, 2016 10:36pm
@lafanga;
' Let's see if the champions of human rights give justice to this poor family.'
All humans are equal but some are more equal than others.
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May 29, 2016 10:48pm
@Tamil Guru Exactly. But the family must be given a few crores !
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May 29, 2016 11:19pm
@Starzan How do u come to a figure of $2 billion. He is not buying F 16
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May 30, 2016 12:09am
You have to suspend all creduality to believe that the Taxi Driver did not know who his passenger REALLY was. It is equally increduolus to believe that Mullah Mansur Akhundzada will take ANY Taxi for such a long ride NOT knowing this taxi driver very well and that the driver was NOT his trusted aid. Does
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May 30, 2016 12:41am
you should be careful who you work for
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May 30, 2016 02:31am
Take it serious. After this FIR, a new precedent is set. America is going to lodge FIR against Afghanistan for 9/11. Afghanistan is going to lodge FIR against Russia for invasion. Japan is lodging FIR against America for WW2 bombing. The list goes on and on.
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May 30, 2016 03:39am
If he was indeed innocent as claimed- then Pakistan carries even more responsibility for his unfortunate death. If radicals get nurtured and the state doesn't act against them, then the rest of the world has no option but to try to address the problem themselves. Letting the target live means ending up with many more innocent deaths, and it is unfortunate if the U.S. is forced to pick between the driver's life and those unknown future victims of terror in Pakistan and elsewhere.
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May 30, 2016 04:11am
Very sad to loose life of innocent driver in US drone attack. Good action by family in taking this action against US by filing FIR, this is a bold step. Family should file FIR against Pakistan govt and military for their intelligence failure to prevent a dangerous terrorist to come to Pakistan freely and a failure to destroy drone flown by US on its territory without their permission. It is a double failure to save Pakistan's citizens and safeguard country's sovereignty.
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May 30, 2016 07:11am
he died for mulla mansour.and should be compensated by him.
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May 30, 2016 07:28am
I feel sad for the tai driver drivers family. Unfortunately nothing will be done but such collateral damage will do nothing for USA but brew more anti American sentiment in future generations.
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May 30, 2016 07:49am
Interesting...
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May 30, 2016 07:54am
@Yankee Cricket Fan And I will lodge an FIR if I lose a loved one? I do not believe brother has locus standi in this matter. It is wife who should have lodged the FIR.
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May 30, 2016 08:11am
If the poor man was not aware of whom he was transporting, his family deserve to be compensated. Let's see how the champion of human right (USA)reacts to it. Feels sorry for family...
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May 30, 2016 08:27am
First report against our govt. who is so weak that anybody can cross over our boarder and do whatever he wants.
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May 30, 2016 11:03am
It is indeed terrible if the said driver was innocent. Hearbreaking actually
Maybe Pak can focus on his fate the next time they hand out passports to terrorists and label them as good guys. Then maybe the US will not need to drop drones and innocent lives will not be lost
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May 30, 2016 02:47pm
What will happen against the USA, Since US is supporting pakistan and giving military aid and US$ so pakistan will do according to the desires and wishes of the US Govt. Instead in FIR ask some aid from US Govt to help the victims family so that their poor children will spend a good life and will become a good citizens of Pakistan.
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May 30, 2016 09:06pm
Someone should tell this person to approach his own authorities first, to file a murder case and see what response he gets. Maybe the government will cooperate and take his case to US courts.
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May 31, 2016 04:14pm
@Rakesh A cab-driver cannot check antecedents of passengers. It the job of Govts who issue visa, passports.
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May 31, 2016 05:51pm
@Last Word By that logic the Pakistani government could be sued for billions and would become a pauper soon. Just think about it.
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May 31, 2016 05:51pm
@Shahzad S Iqbal They were sleeping?? Or told to sleep. Chances are they were unaware of it.
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