Pak SC returns petition seeking halt in talks with Taliban

Petitioner Shahid Orakzai said that the SC Registrar Office raised objections that he had no locus standi to file the petition

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has returned a petition for issuance of a declaration that no person, civil or military, can engage in any contact or negotiation with the Taliban.

Petitioner Shahid Orakzai said that the SC Registrar Office had returned his petition by raising objections that he had no locus standi to file the petition.

The Daily Times quoted Orakzai as saying that he would challenge the objections in a petition soon.

Orakzai had filed the petition under Article 184(3) of the constitution, nominating as respondents the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee through its chairman and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general.

He had requested the court to instruct the ISI DG to identify the persons who are in contact with the Taliban and their mode of communication.

He had further said that respondent JCSC chairman should be instructed to call a meeting of the committee to identify the areas in Pakistan wherein the rebels are threatening the security of the country and report the action to be taken against them.

Orakzai had contended that the court needed to prevent any move against the constitution that might undermine the security of the country and the discipline of the armed forces of Pakistan.