ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Saturday refused to succumb to US pressure for the immediate release of Raymond Davis, whom the US embassy called its diplomat, while advising the US to respect the legal process initiated after the incident.
The US authorities are exerting maximum pressure for Davis’ release as soon as possible and on Saturday the US embassy made a formal demand for his immediate release while declaring him a member of its diplomatic staff which is entitled to diplomatic immunity. The statement from the embassy, which came out on the third day of the Lahore incident was, however, given cold shoulder by the Pakistani authorities.
The Foreign Office, in a brief statement that was issued after daylong consultations among all the relevant government quarters including the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s House and the military leadership, referred to the arrested man as a “US functionary”, in a total negation of the American embassy’s claim that Davis was a US diplomat and his detention was unlawful.
In his statement, FO spokesman Abdul Basit advised American authorities to be patient and wait for the results of the legal process. “This matter is sub judice in a court of law and the legal process should be respected. The Punjab Police is handling the investigation and its report is awaited. For the above reasons, the Foreign Ministry has no substantive comments to offer,” he said.
A western diplomat told Pakistan Today that the US authorities were highly perturbed over Pakistan’s initial response as they wanted their man to be released with immediate effect and sent back to his home country. “The conflicting positions on the part of Islamabad and Washington on this issue can lead to the emergence of a major dispute between Pakistan and the US and it also illustrates the shaky nature of relations between the two nations despite them being close allies in anti-terrorism global campaign,” he said, seeking anonymity.
A Pakistani official, however, said said authorities in Islamabad had genuine concerns about Davis such as why he could not produce a diplomatic card at the time of his detention and even if he did not have it at that moment, his embassy could have come up with it or any other document to prove his identity.
