A cross-section of British-Pakistanis will hold a protest rally against drone attacks in Pakistan during US President Barack Obama’s visit to the British Parliament on May 25. The US president is due on May 24 on a state visit to the United Kingdom during which he will also address the British lawmakers in the Houses of Parliament. The gathering outside the parliament will join Lord Nazir Ahmed and other noted speakers from the Pakistani Diaspora including Rubab Mehdi, chairperson, International Imam Hussein Council in their opposition to the use of drones in breach Pakistan’s sovereignty and the execution of extra judicial killings.
A press release on behalf of the International Imam Hussein Council said it is the duty in international law of all civilized nations to protect and respect the borders and sovereignty of other nations as they wish for their own borders, sovereignty and peoples to be protected and respected. It was pointed out that the US drone attacks and the May 2 operations in Abbotabad had no mandatory authority of UN resolutions. “ No mandate has been sought for the use of drones and lethal force in the territory and upon the citizens of Pakistan,” the release added.
