Pakistan

Lahore shooting: Three more Americans barred from fleeing Pakistan

Raymond Davis’ would-be rescuers’ names placed on exit control list.

Zahid Gishkori February 07, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The government has barred three more Americans from travelling outside Pakistan on allegations that they were in the vehicle that crushed a man to death in Lahore immediately after Raymond Davis, a detained US citizen, was involved in a shootout that killed two other men.

The Punjab government has asked the federal government’s assistance in securing the custody of the three American men who are accused of trampling a motorcyclist to death while they drove to try and rescue Raymond Davis, who is accused of killing two men in Lahore.

“The interior ministry has placed the name of the three Americans, including the driver of the US consulate in Lahore, on the exit control list,” said one federal interior ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Putting a name on the exit control list (ECL) legally empowers the government to prevent that person from leaving the country. Raymond Davis is currently in the custody of the Punjab police in Lahore and awaiting trial for murder.

“We have sought access to get custody of these accused because they are wanted by the Punjab police in connection to the Raymond Davis case,” said Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Senator Pervez Rashid. He added that the preliminary investigation report has been sent to the federal government.

The federal interior ministry, through the Foreign Office, has also written to the US consulate asking for the three accused Americans to be handed over to the Punjab police, said the interior ministry official. He declined to name the three individuals, however, saying that it might compromise the investigation.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Pakistan said that they were not aware of these developments.

“We have not received any such information on the issue as yet,” said Courtney Beale, acting spokesperson of the US embassy in Islamabad.

Both the United States and Pakistan governments are handling the situation with some caution, given the popular reaction against Raymond Davis. While the US government claims that Davis has diplomatic immunity, the court in Lahore has yet to adjudicate on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (24)

Zack | 13 years ago | Reply Even though Mr. Davis is not a diplomat so there 'd be no question about any immunity at all, say that if he 's a diplomatic status in this country, in worst case scenario then please read the below mention Vienna Convention 1963, article 41 which is self explanatory and stats that Quote " 1.Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority." Unquote Please go to the below mention web page United nation's web page or google it. http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/921963.pdf

SanamT | 13 years ago | Reply Either we are a sovereign country who has signed the Geneva convention or we are not. . Pakistani diplomats guilty of terrorism, heroin smuggling and cavorting with prostitutes have all sought and availed of diplomatic immunity wy deny it to some guy who was attacked by 2 robbers in broad daylight. And that widow of his demanding justice after only 10 days have passed. Again railing against due process of law. This kind of jahaaliat should not be tolerated

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Bala | 13 years ago | Reply I am an Indian. 4 pakistani lives has been cost, pakistani government must push for removing his diplomatic immunity even if Davis has it. In past, US government has forced Georgia Government to remove Diplomativ Immunity of its second-rank diplomat since that guy killed a person in an accident (same as the US car killing one person)....What US does is not Morally right ..I hope Pakistani Government shows some spine and fights for its citizens..I would want India to do the same ... Recently an Indian Diplomat slapped his wife....US/UK were jumping up and down..asking the Indians to remove diplomatic immunity but US diplomat kills 2 people..they want him to go scot free ... this must not happen in a free world...its not inline with what US preeches to the world.

feroze | 13 years ago | Reply @Shoot: To avoid the Mob justice mentality we are so good at. if I was him I would have sought shelter too. When mobs in Karachi catch robbers and burn them alive nothing happens. Here a foreigner acts allegedly in self defense and kills two people who had robbed other Pakistani citizens within the hour and we have suddenly become holier then the king!!!

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply @Names: To We know what diplomatic immunity is. In a standard Pakistan Embassy only three or four officers have diplomatic immunity (including the the Ambassador, the first secretary, second secretary). The Ambassador’s cahuffer does not have immunity, leave alone a chauffe working in a counsulate .

A.Salma | 13 years ago | Reply @Feroze: A sane voice among the loonies! @Shoot: u wrote: "Really. If he is innocent why was he fleeing from the scene? He should have stayed until police arrived, if he knew he was innoce" r u serious? Even if i was caught in Lahore in middle of a homicide in from of all the beardoes, i will run to ! Let alone a Gora from the US embasy..he is a meat for the beardos and the taliban sympathizers!

Danish+S. | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asif Khan, "However when GORA’s cat is injured, whole FBI comes into action." I'm impressed, how do you know this?

Umair Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply Its a spy rendezvous gone bad guys. Its a classic case of ISI and CIA at each others throats and Pakistani and American governments trying to clean up their mess. I am quite sure the 2 guys riding the motor cycle were no angels and Raymond Davis is no saint either. If you look at the official releases on Pakistan Foreign Office and US State Department, they distancing themselves from accepting or denying anything. He will get diplomatic immunity as soon as intelligence agencies get what they want. SO, this whole Vienna convention and diplomatic immunity in my opinion is a smoke screen.

\amin | 13 years ago | Reply @unseen-eccentric: It is not a matter of exchange. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

waqas | 13 years ago | Reply Very well done, but its not over yet.

ASIF KHAN | 13 years ago | Reply @Sqn Ldr S.Ausaf Husain ( Retd): Jameel Fakri (TV Actor) son Ali Ayaz Fakhri was US Citizen and brutally murdered in New York in January 2009. His case was never investigated US Law enforcement. NYPD informed Mr. Fakhri family after repeated calls; "Your son is been murdered by some bad people" However when GORA's cat is injured, whole FBI comes into action. Wake up SIR.

Shoot | 13 years ago | Reply @feroze: Really. If he is innocent why was he fleeing from the scene? He should have stayed until police arrived, if he knew he was innocent.

Anjabeen Shah | 13 years ago | Reply @feroze: Agreed. But not laughable. Pathetic. And yes, many of us wonder what happened to the two witnesses who immediately claimed that they too had been robbed, the police had been informed at the same time, and that two phones had been recovered from the dead boys later. (and then they lived happily ever after?) Why hasn't the press picked up on this as yet? Who are those two men? Why aren't they being brought forward? Or are we right in assuming that it was just a ploy to support Raymond Davis' version of self-defense?

feroze | 13 years ago | Reply Wake up people. If its proved RD has diplomatic immunity even the Supreme court cant do anything but set him free!!!!!!! Pakistan is a signatory to the Vienna Convention and three Pakistani Diplomats have benefited from it in the same way. Lets not make Pakistan more of a mockery in the face of the world then we already are!!

feroze | 13 years ago | Reply What a joke this whole affair is turning into. First we dont know if he's a diplomat or not which is rather strange as we should have a record of all diplomats from all countries accredited to Pakistan with the F/O. Secondly these guys were robbers, identified as such by the first witness interviewed (who suddenly disappeared) and a gun and money was recovered from them. Suddenly they have become operative of an intelligence agency. If thats the case why did the wife of one of them kill herself because she would not get justice even though her husband wasnt a thief but worked for the GOP. No wonder the world looks at Pakistan like a Banana Republic. We have so many monkeys running affairs of state that its laughable.

unseen-eccentric | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan and US can come to a compromise by trading this low life loser for Afia Sidiqui

Mir | 13 years ago | Reply Americans dont need airports to leave a country. Focus on Davis who is in custody and make an example of these soldiers who are making this country into a video game.

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply This is a funny case now... I saw a tv channel showing the SSN number of Davis... that was really not needed, SSN is a private thing and sensitive in the US but hey that's what the Pakistani media does to you if you mess up here...LOL

asif warraich | 13 years ago | Reply Dear people will any one can reply that this immunity only for the emerican diplomate or countery such nepal and bangladesh are also include.the other thing is about aafia sadiki, no one know how the american take aafia sadiki.the american judiciary gave him punishment still death.then how can we let him go with out any trial.what i think there is no any diplometic law which gave him right that he can kill anyone in doubt.so i will say to the federel and province government that if they canot do any thing to return back aafia sadiki then they could,not speak about reymonddvis.we let him not go with out trial.if anyone helphim illegal he canot live in pakistan.god give them a place in jannat and also gives a pation to there reletive and there parents.

asif warraich | 13 years ago | Reply sir will any one can reply that this immunity only for the emerican diplomate or countery such nepal and bangladesh are also include.the other thing is about aafia sadiki, no one know how the american take aafia sadiki.the american judiciary gave him punishment still death.then how can we let him go with out any trial.what i think there is no any diplometic law which gave him right that he can kill anyone in doubt.so i will say to the federel and province government that if they canot do any thing to return back aafia sadiki then they could,not speak about reymonddvis.we let him not go with out trial.if anyone helphim illegal he canot live in pakistan.god give them a place in jannat and also gives a pation to there reletive and there parents.

Ameer Hamza | 13 years ago | Reply Good job, Punjab Govt.

Names | 13 years ago | Reply What are the names of the three staff members of the US Consulate in Lahore? What are their positions and titles? Do they possess diplomatic immunity? Why are the facts being suppressed?

Sqn Ldr S.Ausaf Husain ( Retd) | 13 years ago | Reply Our government should also learn a lesson from Raymond Davis's case that how much the American government is concerned about their citizens that to save even their ordinary citizen no matter he or she is right or wrong. The top US government officials immediately rings up President and Prime Minister in case any US citizen is in trouble in their country. Recently the US Secretary of States Helray Clinton personally rang up President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to release Raymond Davis. Then why not American people should praise their leaders and die for their country. Do we have any such example?

Sqn Ldr S.Ausaf Husain ( Retd) | 13 years ago | Reply Its interesting to see the fun going on. My hats off to President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan government for taking a firm stand on not to release Raymond Davis till Pakistani court's decision. Putting other three American suspects of backup vehicle on ECL is a wise step. Lets see who wins 'Law or Outlaws. But don't forget the old saying " Jis ki lathi us ki bheinse".

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