Govt asked to shoot down drones

PESHAWAR, April 25: A Jamaat-i-Islami sponsored roundtable conference held here on Monday asked the government to shoot down drones and take up the issue at international forums. The conference alleged that the federal government had allowed US drones to use Pakistani airports for bombing targets in the tribal area. The roundtable conference was held at the party headquarters against drone attacks in Fata. Pakistan Muslim League, dissident MNA of Awami National Party Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, PML-Q, Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao and leaders of religious parties attended the conference. A joint declaration said that the CIA-operated drones were taking off from Pakistani airports which had carried out over 260 attacks in the tribal area so far. It said that about 4,000 innocent people including women and children had been killed in these attacks. The declaration termed drone attacks violation of the country sovereignty, fundamental human rights and United Nations charter. It said that the Parliament had passed unanimous resolution in October 2008, but it had not been implemented in letter and spirit. — Bureau Report