ISLAMABAD/LAHORE – The United States on Thursday asked for an expeditious resolution of the row with Pakistan over the detention of Raymond Davis, an American national detained for killing two Pakistanis in Lahore, saying responsibility for his safety rests with the federal and Punjab governments.
Meanwhile in Lahore, Cantonment Judicial Magistrate Zafar Iqbal Sial granted bail to Davis for carrying an illegal handgun but extended his physical remand until February 11 in the double murder case. The magistrate directed the accused to submit a bail bond of Rs 100,000 with the court. Police told the court they needed to interrogate Davis about the Americans and their vehicle which ran over a motorcyclist.
The court admitted the police request and extended Davis’ remand for another eight days. The US Embassy said in a statement that it was appalled that on Thursday the American diplomat was remanded in court without notice to the US government, without his lawyer present, and without translation assistance. He was denied due process and a fair hearing,” the embassy said.
As the United States continues to build pressure for the release of its citizen, the Foreign Office has finalized its report on the diplomatic immunity for the US national which it will present soon in the LHC declaring that he is a member of the US Embassy diplomatic staff and hence has immunity.
In a significant related development, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi leaves for Germany today (Friday) to attend the “Munich Security Conference” on Afghanistan situation where he is likely to meet his US counterpart, Hillary Clinton and apprise her about Pakistan’s position on the Davis issue.
The Foreign Ministry’s report on Davis is likely to cause upheaval in Pakistanis but it could pave the way for the acquittal of detained American citizen from the court of law and thus end the days-long diplomatic row between Islamabad and Washington that has angered policymakers in Washington.
