PHC declares drone strikes illegal, orders govt to compensate victims

E-Paper | March 02, 2026

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday declared the CIA-led drone strikes on Pakistani territory illegal and ordered the government to compensate the victims of drone attacks.

The PHC chief justice Dost Mohammad said drone attacks must equal to a war crimes.

He added that the attacks were violating human rights and were against the United Nations’ charter.

In its detailed judgment, the court directed the government to take measures to stop drone strikes which it said were violating Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Chief Justice announcing his decision over a petition submitted by Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) lawyer S M Zafar and ordered the Interior Ministry to file a resolution with the United Nation's Human Rights Commission adding that in case the resolution was vetoed by the United States then ties with the US be severed.

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Aftab Kenneth Wilson

May 09, 2013 12:34pm

I think CJ of PHC should personally in his own capacity send notice to UN and if they do not comply then further send them contempt notices. Few days back the same court banned Gen. retd. Musharaf for taking part in any present or future elections. One should not forget that justice is blind but not judges.

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p r sharma

May 09, 2013 12:40pm

yes, the victims of drones be placed before the court and the world.

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Adil

May 09, 2013 01:07pm

Bohut der kar de mahrban atay atay! We all know why the PHC is doing exactly the opposite of their own stance for years. I wish they would have done all this way back in mid 2000's when drone attacks started.

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Shafiq Khan

May 09, 2013 02:05pm

One presumes that the caretaker government will accept the PHC's decision and act on it! Unless they want to appeal the decision. Obviously , the caretaker government can not flaunt the decision of the court, can they? We shall see in due course!

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Najeebullah

May 09, 2013 02:44pm

Mr chief justice sahib these matters are superior than your intellectual wisdom, Drone strike is the most successful tool against the terrorists.

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shahid

May 09, 2013 05:23pm

Step in the right direction. I hope this time court orders will be fully implemented. Long live free and fair Pakistan Judiciary.

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wateeb khan

May 09, 2013 11:59pm

drone strike should be seize...

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muzammil ullah khan

May 10, 2013 12:48am

What about declaring the bombings of the innocents by Taliban as illegal too !! Or is it that the Court is scared of the Taliban retaliation and is playing safe as usual . Congratulations to the judges. They have again hit the headlines on a popular issue even though this verdict is meaningless and is not worth the paper it is written on !

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Sultan Khan

May 10, 2013 06:50am

Taking suo moto the PHC should take the foreign and defence ministries alongwith the armed forces of Pakistan under their direct control making general iftikhar the COAS and declare a war against America.

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bkt

May 10, 2013 08:06pm

An excellent judgment. Now please declare that Afghanis living Pakistan must go home. Now please

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