World Bulletin / News Desk 

A Pakistani court on Tuesday ordered the registration of a murder case against a former CIA station chief for his alleged role in the killings of civilians in drone strikes.

The Islamabad High Court issued the order in response to a petition filed by anti-drone activist Karim Khan, whose teenage son and brother were killed in a U.S. drone strike in the North Waziristan tribal area.

Last June the court had ordered a case against former CIA station chief Jonathan Banks, who left Islamabad in 2004, but police did not comply after government requests.

Dismissing government claims that a case would affect ties with the U.S., the court renewed the order and requested police lodge a case within 24 hours.

Drone strikes have long been a bone of contention between Washington and Islamabad, however many believe the two sides have a tacit agreement regarding the operations.

According to human rights groups, 70 percent of people killed in more than 3,000 drone strikes since 2004 have been civilians.