File Photo: An Unmanned US Drone. Picture used for representational purpose (Associated Press)
Pakistan's Supreme Court today rejected a petition seeking to stop US drone attacks in the country's troubled northwestern tribal region, saying it is purely a security-related matter.
A Petitioner had asked the apex court to direct the government to use its air power to stop the CIA-operated drone strikes in tribal areas.
Justice Saqib Nisar of the two-member panel rejected the petition, saying that no legal issue was involved and it was not for the court to take a decision on purely security- related matter.
"How can the court order war to stop drone attacks?" Justice Nisar asked.
The decision of the court came hardly a week after Islamabad High Court has asked police to launch a criminal case against a former CIA station chief for killing civilians in drone strikes in Pakistan.
American drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt have been deeply unpopular with the public as civilians are deeply affected.
Pakistani officials have publicly condemned the drone strikes, saying they violate sovereignty.