The pilot was seized after his MIG-21 Bison fighter jet was shot down during an aerial combat between the Indian and Pakistani fighters near the Line of Control (LoC).
A handout photograph released by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations on February 27, 2019, shows captured Indian pilot Wg Cdr Abhinandan in the custody of Pakistani forces in an undisclosed location. (Photo: AFP)
The Islamabad High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed against the release of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured by Pakistan two days earlier.
The pilot was seized after his MIG-21 Bison fighter jet was shot down during an aerial combat between the Indian and Pakistani fighters near the Line of Control (LoC).
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Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case earlier in the day ahead of the IAF pilot’s release, Samaa TV reported.
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Justice Minallah told the petitioner the decision to release the pilot was made by Prime Minister Imran Khan during a Parliament session on Thursday and no parliamentarian raised any objections.
“So this is a policy matter and we must respect Parliament,” the judge said.
The petition said that the “prime minister’s office may be directed to act in accordance with law as enshrined in Article 4 of the Constitution of Pakistan by initiating criminal proceedings of waging the war and act of terrorism and commence the trial under Army Act 1952”.
Khan had announced that Pakistan will release the pilot as a “gesture of peace”.
(With IANS inputs)
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