A sessions court in Karachi has dismissed a petition seeking to file a criminal case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring it inadmissible at the preliminary hearing.
The judge ruled that, under the Vienna Convention of 1961, heads of state enjoy diplomatic immunity, and therefore, a criminal case against Donald Trump cannot be entertained in Pakistan.
The government prosecutor argued that the petition was filed in bad faith and appeared to be a publicity stunt, as the alleged actions took place in Iran, yet the petition was filed in Pakistan. The prosecutor added that such applications unnecessarily burden the legal system and create avoidable complications.
On the other hand, petitioner Jamshed Ali Khawaja’s counsel, Advocate Jafar Abbas Jafri, contended that millions of Pakistanis were affected by Trump’s decisions and that the petition only sought registration of a case, not arrest.
The court noted that the relevant legal provisions had been submitted but, after hearing all arguments, declared the plea inadmissible and rejected it.
It is worth mentioning that the case was reportedly filed in connection with a U.S. military action in Iran and its alleged consequences, with an attempt to pursue legal recourse in Pakistan.
