Raymond Davis to be tried in jail

Trial to commence on February 25 at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.

LAHORE: Lahore's session court on Tuesday approved a jail trial of Raymond Davis, which will commence on February 25 at Kot Lakhpat Jail in the provincial capital.

The Punjab government’s prosecution department had submitted an application for the jail trial in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Yousaf.

The application cited security reasons for the trial to be held in court, stating that it was not possible to produce Davis in court on different dates.

The court accepted the application and allowed the jail trial.

Non-diplomatic identity card

A letter from the United States Embassy reveals that the mission had asked the Pakistani Foreign Office to issue a non-diplomatic identity card to Raymond Davis in January 2010.

The letter was produced by Senator Tariq Azeem on Express 24/7 show Witness with Quatrina.

Commenting on the letter, a US Embassy spokesperson said the Pakistan government's external procedures on issuing diplomatic or non-diplomatic identity cards were not relevant to the Davis case.

The official said Pakistan's procedures had no bearing on Raymond Davis who enjoys diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.

The spokesperson said the letter shown on the show was a formal notification by the US government stating that Davis was a member of the administrative and technical staff at the embassy.

Driver of consulate vehicle still missing

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) says the Punjab government sent six letters to the federal government, requesting assistance in finding the driver of the US consulate vehicle that ran over a third Pakistani after the Lahore shooting.

The Civil Lines Superintendent of Police (SP) also contacted the US Consulate in Lahore for information on the vehicle and its driver, but the consulate could not comment as it had not been directed by the US government to do so.