https://arab.news/9yw4c
- Petitioner claimed US airstrikes caused mental distress in Pakistan, court says matter outside jurisdiction
- Legal experts say petition lacked merit, proper forum to approach would be international court
KARACHI: A local court in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against US President Donald Trump over recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, ruling that the matter fell outside its jurisdiction.
The plea was filed on June 24 by Advocate Jamshed Ali Khowaja, who claimed to represent hundreds of members of the International Lawyers Forum (ILF). His counsel, Jafar Abbas Jafri, argued that the June 21–22 strikes by US B-2 bombers triggered panic and psychological trauma across Pakistan, including among lawyers.
“A case can be filed where the crime occurred and where its effects were felt. The effects were felt across the country, including within the limits of Docks Police Station,” Jafri told the court during Tuesday’s hearing.
He also alleged that suspicious US naval activity near Pakistan’s coastal belt intensified public fear, saying the attack “has caused mental stress and terrorized millions, including my client.”
However, the judge questioned whether the matter was justiciable in Pakistan.
“This happened outside Pakistan’s territory,” the judge remarked. “If anything happens anywhere in the world, should Pakistani courts take up every such case?”
On Wednesday, after hearing arguments on maintainability, the court dismissed the petition.
Legal experts earlier told Arab News the petition had little merit under Pakistani law.
“Donald Trump is the president of a country, and no direct harm was caused to Pakistani citizens or lawyers,” said senior lawyer Shaukat Hayat.
“Tomorrow if someone moves a US court to register a case against the Pakistani premier, will the US court order registering a case against our PM?”
Ali Ahmed Palh, another senior lawyer, called the petition an attention-seeking move.
“The right proper forum for such complaints can be the International Criminal Court,” he said. “Pakistani courts have no jurisdiction over such cases.”