Pakistan

Pressure mounts: US calls for Davis’ release

US Consul-General says Davis is entitled to full immunity under the Vienna convention.

Afp February 12, 2011

LAHORE: The US on Friday renewed demands for Pakistan to immediately release a detained American official who Washington says acted in self-defence when he shot dead two men.

“As a member of the administrative and technical staff at the US embassy in Islamabad, Raymond Davis is entitled to full immunity from criminal prosecution by Pakistan under the Vienna convention,” US Consul-General Carmela Conroy said.

Reading out a written statement to media in Lahore, Conroy, who met Davis in jail, said that under the convention, he should be freed immediately”.

“We need to resolve this case immediately and continue our work, including cooperation in education and health, and our common fight against extremist violence.”

“We regret that authorities did not consider...eyewitness accounts and physical evidence when they stated that this was not a case of self-defence,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (16)

Jamshaid Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: Where are your Hyman Rights, Equality Rights? Please TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.

Jamshaid Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @davidson...................Please check and read about who in the world carries a Glock Pistol and further read and logically think which diplomat can wonder around busy parts of Lahore, knowing it is unsafe for diplomats to go there without security. The big questions for USA is "what was a diplomat doing with his Glock unlawfully provided by the USA Government in a busy part of Lahore and what diplomatic duties was he performing there?

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Abdul-Mughis Rana | 13 years ago | Reply Lets wait for Pak Court's decision.

Tony Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: Dear Mr. Davidson Is the aid given by US to Pakistan is to make Pakistanis target for target practice by US citizens? The logic given by you only would increase amnoisity between these two countries. Mr. Raymond Davis has killed two people. Let him stand in court of Law and prove that he did so in self defense. No one is yet saying he is guilty of murder. Do not sully the image of US and link the aid given by it to killing of people.

Mustafa Zayid | 13 years ago | Reply @ ani: You and your Indian ilk: why are as over-concerned as to what is going on in Pakistan? We don't unnecessarily 'worry' that much about your legal or other process and the way you interact with foreigners. So, why you? This is a kind of glossolalia with Indians: Pakistan bashing and slander (and that too, in a Pakistani newspaper!)

Wahid Akhram | 13 years ago | Reply @ Tim Davidson : Technically, you are right. So, Uncle Sam should apply to Zardari or Gilani for an expeditious refund! May be, a compound interest can also be included with the principal outstanding. :-) Remember, the 'severance' will have to be vetted by the ISI and the Military.

ani | 13 years ago | Reply Welcome to Pakistan. Laws are miraculously discovered to prosecute foreigners. Due process, legal representation ...hmmmm anyone? Here you are guilty before any evidence is collected, presented or analyzed. The emotional and over zealous public drunk on religious fervor and hate-USA propoganda is out to lynch Mr. Davis. Facts be damned. Now you know why they call it the epicenter of lawlessness (to put it mildly). Regarding aid and national pride. Last year, after Pakistan demanded (this was yet another "prove it to me that you love me" gesture, like it always is with dysfunctional people) $7.5B of aid from the US, it decided to protest. Its compalint: the aid 'violated' its security. Well Ms. Clinton, in a dramatic fashion, responded by asking the Pakistani's to return that aid. Well ...their bluff was called. Despite all the bravado, no one showed up to return anything much less say thank you.

Ali Haider | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: The sheer arrogance shown in your comment is what is going to take the whole US down one day. It is not only you, there are many like you who think everyone else is an animal. You guys need to start looking at other people/countries as humans.

Amna | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: Trust me, you have been buying a little something if not a lot. Afghanistan would have been a bigger disaster for you had Pakistan not been an ally. And like someone mentioned, its already become a Vietnam for you. Its sad how the huge superpower with such a highly equipped military even feels the need to buy help from Pakistan. And now looking for all sorts of excuses to blame for your failure in Afghanistan. You as an American taxpayer should be questioning your own government for all this mess.

asif nadeem | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: mr. you never bought PAKISTAN and neither u can dare to. you people wanted to stay safe in ur heaven i.e. USA thats why ur Govt. tried to engage Taliban in Afghanistan. People of Pakistan have no differences with Talibans. they are killing us because we are helping you.they are angry with us because of u. u are just paying peanuts to us for this fight. dont ever think man that u can buy us. u r playing with us and we r playing with u. the one who played well will win this war. best of luck u ameri can't.

parvez | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson: Hilarious!! loved your comment. Lets say Pakistan consists of 180 million people. You sir, have bought 0.5 million of them the other 179.5 million you have failed to even consider. Your guy doing the "buying" has made a bit of a mess.

maitre | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson. Aid doesn't mean that we allow you to take innocent lives and operate under 'Blackwater's organisation' brand. We want justice as assures 'Talion's law': 'eye for eye and tooth for tooth'. We too are cheated for we helped you defeat the Russians and now your are showing us grinding teeth. That's unacceptable to us. Raymond Davis is to be sent to gallows. We will foil all Americans attempts to inseminate chaoses in Pakistan through 'American paid Talibans' or 'Indians recruited and trained suicide bombers' in our land. The American Embassy's extension will be stopped soon and the staff would be sent packing. In Afghanistan, another Vietnam awaits you.

Adnan Sial | 13 years ago | Reply @Tim Davidson We Pakistani, are talking about the justice. We will refund the aid by giving you the decision of the court soon.

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply According to videos shown by different channels when Raymond Davis asked for water, this was the reply "No money no water". Later with some colorful English with mixed-in Punjabi language he was provided water "this is Nestle di botle". If this is the way and method of investigation then God Bless us. Apart from whether he has immunity or not it now seems that the whole case now rests in the hands of either our Holy Fathers or Archangels.

Tim Davidson | 13 years ago | Reply As an American tax payer, I feel cheated. It appears that all the hard-earned money that we have been pouring into Pakistan just isn't "buying" anything. I thought Pakistan was bought and paid for to be our ally. Apparently not! At least, we need a refund.:-) Tim D

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply If PPP wants to continue it govt, then it should not make the biggest mistake since its inception by letting this American walk free. It would be the last nail in the coffin.

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