LAHORE – The Punjab government has dispatched an official letter to the federal government to play its role for the immediate custody of the US Consulate driver and car which ran over and killed Ubaidur Rehman in a bid to help Raymond Davis, Pakistan Today learnt on Sunday.
According to sources, the letter sought federal government’s help to unearth mystery behind the movement and the killing spree of Davis and his accomplices, who managed to escape from the scene. The letter further said it was the job of the federal government to communicate with the embassies and consulates when required, adding that the Punjab government had its own constitutional limits, which was why it could not influence any embassy.
The sources added that US Consulate in Lahore had forwarded the letter written by Capital City Police Officer Muhammad Aslam Tareen to the US embassy in Islamabad for further action. Punjab government spokesman Pervaiz Rasheed confirmed that the letter had been sent to the federal government on Sunday, hoping that the government would come forward for assistance.
The US Consualte in Lahore on Sunday also issued a statement about Raymond Davis claiming that he was an official member of their technical staff. Being a staff member of the consulate, Raymond Davis had immunity from criminal proceedings, arrest and detention, it said. CCPO Tareen told Pakistan Today on Sunday that the US Consulate had not responded to their request as yet. He said the US Consulate had so far maintained silence on the issue.
He said they had got sufficient evidence against Raymond Davis after the seizure of his unlicensed weapon, car and eyewitness accounts in the incident. “Raymond told us that he was going to a local restaurant,” the CCPO added. He said cases had been registered against Raymond and investigations were underway. Tareen said the accused would be dealt in accordance with the law, adding that Raymond was being detained for further queries.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General Rana Bakhtiyar told reporters that the killing of two people – Faizan and Faheem – by Raymond was not in self defense. He said according to the Vienna Convention, only an on-duty diplomat enjoyed immunity whereas according to 39/2 section of Vienna Convention, the diplomat could also lose immunity if he was involved in any criminal proceeding.
