ISLAMABAD: Though reluctant to investigate an FIR registered against a former CIA station chief in Islamabad and his legal adviser, the capital police are preparing guidelines to follow the legal process on the directions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

In June 2014, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC had ordered the Secretariat police to register an FIR against former CIA station chief Jonathan Banks and his legal adviser John A. Rizzo.

The order was issued on a petition filed by anti-drone activist Karim Khan. A resident of North Waziristan, Mr Khan lost his son Zahinullah and brother Asif Iqbal in a US drone strike on Dec 31, 2009.

Mr Khan alleged that the then CIA Islamabad station chief was responsible for the murder of his son and brother.

However, the case was later quashed and transferred to the Fata Secretariat on the grounds that the offence was committed within the tribal areas.

The petitioner then approached the IHC again, and after several hearings spread over two years the court on Jan 16 directed the capital police to initiate investigations against Mr Banks and Mr Rizzo. When contacted, Secretariat Police Station House Officer Inspector Qasir Gillani said so far the police had not received written court orders.

Asked about the legal process to be followed, the SHO said: “The police will act according to the policy. According to the law, the case should be registered at the place where the incident had occurred.”

But senior police officers told Dawn on condition of anonymity that as verbal orders had been received from the court, guidelines were being prepared to investigate the case and complete the legal procedure.

The officers said the investigators would approach the US embassy in Islamabad through the Foreign Office and seek details of the two persons nominated in the FIR. The details will include the period of their stay in the country and reasons for it along with their activities and engagements.

Their roles and presence in the crime scene will also be examined, they added.

Besides, the interior ministry and its attached departments such as the FIA and the immigration department will be approached to get details of the two accused, including their status while staying in the country.

Moreover, other authorities concerned will also be approached to investigate the issue of drone attacks.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2018