LAHORE – The US on Tuesday again demanded the release of Raymond Davis, saying he was a diplomat and enjoyed immunity. Addressing the media, a US State Department spokesman repeated the country’s demand for Davis’ release, saying US Ambassador Cameron Munter had again met Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar to press for Raymond Davis’ release.
Earlier in the day, Hina Rabbani told reporters that Pakistan was considering to seek the services of international legal experts for the interpretation of the Vienna Convention 1961 on the issue of Raymond Davis. Hina said the government would present the issue of US national Raymond Davis’ status before the court in light of interpretation by international legal experts.
She said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had already stated that the governments of Pakistan and US were not on the same page in the matter of Davis’ status. “The decision on whether Davis enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution will be made by the court,” she said. Hina said that Pakistan’s sovereignty would not be compromised on the issue and hoped that the US would not let bilateral ties deteriorate over contentious issue.
She also said that there were no differences between the interior and foreign ministries on the Davis’ case. Meanwhile in Lahore, Additional District and Session Judge Yousaf Aoujla on Tuesday accepted the Punjab government’s request to hold the trial of American Raymond Davis in jail, saying the next hearing on February 25 would be held inside Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Earlier, the district public prosecutor submitted an application in the sessions court asking for Davis’ trial to be held inside the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail, where the accused is being presently housed.
