PESHAWAR – Pakistani police Sunday said they were investigating an American national said to have been working for a private security company, after he outstayed his Pakistani visa. The US embassy in Islamabad has identified the man arrested Friday as Aaron Mark DeHaven and a Pakistani court Saturday remanded him in custody for 14 days.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States have been deeply strained over the arrest last month of a CIA contractor identified as Raymond Davis, who has been charged with murder over the shooting dead of two men in Lahore. The US insists that Davis has diplomatic immunity and is demanding that he be released.
“We are investigating the American,” Mohammad Waqar, chief of the police investigation team, told AFP over the latest detention, but did not give details. Waqar said that a court will hear DeHaven’s bail application on Monday. Another senior police official, Mohammad Ejaz Khan, said that after the expiry of his Pakistani visa DeHaven had written a letter to the Board of Investment, but was told that his visa could not be extended.
“He was working for Catalyst Services Private limited and used to provide security services and accommodation to foreigners working on development projects in the region,” Khan told AFP, giving no details about the projects. A security official said that Aaron Mark DeHaven’s visa expired on October 23.
Police have said DeHaven was taken into custody from Falcon Complex, a residential area in the northwestern city of Peshawar that runs into the lawless tribal belt near the Afghan border.
