Pakistan

Punjab’s request for trying Davis declined

Federal govt declines Punjab govt's request seeking trial of Raymond Davis for espionage.

Express February 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has declined a Punjab government request seeking trial of ‘US diplomatic official’ Raymond Davis, who is also facing double murder charges, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Punjab government had asked for instituting a case of espionage against Davis. Police prosecutors had recommended trying Davis for spying on the basis of “strong evidence” against him. However, the federal government’s consent was necessary because Davis claims to be a member of the US diplomatic mission, sources said.

In a letter to the federal government, the provincial authorities had recommended registration of an espionage case on the basis of a confessional statement of Davis that he had made during interrogation, the source added.

Police had recovered sensitive documents and photographs of Pakistan’s defence installations from Davis.

In another letter addressed to the ministry of foreign affairs, the Punjab government has sought the custody of four employees of the US consulate-general in Lahore.

They are accused of crushing to death a Pakistani citizen while they were driving in a marketplace of Lahore on Jan 27 when Davis shot dead two Pakistanis. The police had registered a criminal case against them.

According to Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, the accused are hiding in the US consulate general in Lahore. The consulate officials have asked the Punjab government to approach the ministry of foreign affairs for the custody of the four men and their vehicle.

Another source told The Express Tribune that the police have recovered a file from Davis which contained highly sensitive information.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (13)

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Please free Raymond Davis. The two guyz he killed were dubious armed ppl n we cant risk losing all the aid, all the business market and all the student visas n job visas for just one man ! We r too heavily dependent on US to make an issue over one man...They have threatened to cut off military n civil aid of 8 Bn $, cut down all training programs and even reduce visas for Pakistanis. No price would have been too much, IF, and its a big if, human life was worth anything in Pk, which it is not, as borne by various violent incidents daily, and if we were willing to buckle up and work hard and live within our means. With a resounding no to both, an armed invasion of fundamentalists around the corner and we at our last gasps clutching at straws, we r in no position to resist. And as for immunity, anyone undercover of a diplomat has immunity, spy or otherwise. No one has ever arrested or punished a diplomat except where his country of origin WAIVED his immunity like geogia did when thier ambassador killed someone in USA. Russia didnt when thier ambassador killed in Canada so Canada had to return him, but the russians punished him themslves. When a libyan diplomat shot dead a policewoman in England, the English requested the Libyans to waive his diplomatic immunity. When Libya didnt, they returned the diplomat to libya but in protest broke diplomatic relations. But they didnt punish the diplomat. Pakistani diplomats were caught with RDX, with heroin, having sex with prostitutes in public places but because of immunity they were not prosecuted. Thats the law. We must follow it in Ramond case and request USA to try him in american courts n if needed send a lawyer there. No need to get so emotional about it and dont ask the govt to break the international law !

Iqbal Butt | 13 years ago | Reply The PML-N government should initiate a long march against the release of the Infidel Raymond Davis

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Zia | 13 years ago | Reply Davis affair makes us ask many questions. Our government and the military not only failed to their duty. Regardless of weher or not Davis faces a trial an investigation of our leaders who committed high treason by giving secret permission for this covert butchery is necessary if we want a free Pakistan. No one should be surprised to hear Fouzia Wahab and the likes. The pay day is approaching and the CIA has stopped the salary. Digital Globe satellite images (now removed form Google Earth but still available online) clearly show parked at Shamsi Airport in Kharan District of Balochitan (not far from neuclear test site) but the official story, as usual, is nothing but a bunch of lies.

Aamir+Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @Syed Go ahead and provide Pakistani consulate with guns and ask them to kill. Pakistan will be treated exactly same as Libya was in Britain.

Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply Just counting the days of his release. If he is allowed to walk free then Qadri detention is Questionable The present Govt. Cannot eat the cake and take it home too.

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Please proivde all pakistani consulate in america with guns and ask them to kill people.. Come on they have immunity nothing would happen...!!

Happy Tidings | 13 years ago | Reply Captivity of Davis Raymond is blessing in disguise for numerous people. Not a single drone attack has taken place since Davis is arrested. For the sake of saving human lives ( may be for the short period of time) we must keep apprehended this so called "diplmot"..

N M Chaudhry | 13 years ago | Reply Put all the members of "us consulate" in jail if they do not hand over the criminals. This is true that government wants to set davis free and if this happens then we have very corrupt, weak, shameless and disgusting rulers. Pakistani government is trying hard to release davis behind the scenes. We cannot expect good from these corrupt politicians. Many of the politicians are the agents of usa. As soon as their government will end they will fly to some other country. I pray that davis along with other us criminals should be hanged till death as early as possible. May Allah guide our politicians as well so that they may become "Banday de Puttar". Politicians stop begging from other countries. Try to utilize your own resources. Pakistan is very rich in resources. Do some thing for Pakistan not for your own Bank Accounts in other countries.

SARA | 13 years ago | Reply can i bring weapons and took sensitive areas pics and records, if i visit US, being a Pakistani diplomatic official??? n if i murder 1 or 2 or may b 4 (possibility) in self defence then, will my governemnt take any action to release me will they pressurize america to just let me go? will american court release me??? i think NO...

Uzair Javaid | 13 years ago | Reply Another angle to the scene is that Federal government would never want Punjab government to try Davis in court as it defames Punjab's PML(N). It would certainly be used against PML and the people would remember that Davis was released from Lahore. Davis is not a diplomat as has already been the pivot for Shah Mehmood Qureshi's expulsion from the federal cabinet. This government needs punishment that is far from humane because the kind of treason they have committed needs sorting out for an example to be set for generations to come

Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Both the federal governement and the punjab governement are trying to bring a bad name to each other parties.. none of them care about davis.. i can challenge anyone that the pm,cm,president and wada sharif dont even know the names of the victim.

SUB | 13 years ago | Reply Fouzia Wahab Khappe

Ashraf R | 13 years ago | Reply Why was Davis taking photographs of defense installations when they are already available on Google Earth? This does not mean that the US is planning an invasion of Pakistan. All nations gather information from the countries where their diplomats are posted. Israel spies on the US which is its closest ally. The solution to this issue is to trade Davis for Dr.Aafia and seek financial compensation for the victims. The truth is Pakistan cannot survive without US economic and military aid. Chinese military equipment is inferior and cannot be relied on.

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Entertainment

Cillian Murphy to sell Dublin townhouse, seeking more privacy amid growing fame

Johnny Somali flaunts passport in defiance of South Korea’s ban

Banned streamer Johnny Somali waves emergency passport despite ban from leaving South Korea amid legal troubles.
Offset caught in wild Paris brawl with Gazo’s team over failed payment

Offset clashes with French rapper Gazo’s crew in Paris over a failed video shoot, leading to a chaotic street brawl.
Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott steal the show at ‘Gladiator II’ London premiere

Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott join ‘Gladiator II’ cast for the film’s world premiere in London’s Leicester Square.
Sophie Turner in talks to star as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider’ series

Sophie Turner may step into the iconic Lara Croft role for Amazon’s ‘Tomb Raider’ series, created by Phoebe Bridge