Law, interior ministries handling diplomatic matters

Rehman Malik, Babar Awan now directly dealing with the sensitive issue of diplomatic immunity of Raymond Davis.

ISLAMABAD: Seasoned diplomats and bureaucrats at the now leaderless Foreign Office are happy to let the powerful ministries of law and interior handle sensitive and controversial affairs, at least in the case of the Raymond Davis issue.

The two ministries are now trying to find a solution to “legally complex” questions raised by the Punjab government ahead of the next hearing of the Davis case. One of the sources confirmed that Rehman Malik and Babar Awan are now “directly dealing with the sensitive issue of diplomatic immunity” to the jailed American national.

“In the absence of a full minister and after the unceremonious departure of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, even the interior ministry is depending on Law Minister Babar Awan to frame a presentable legal opinion before March 14,” said another source.

Copies of secret correspondences available with The Express Tribune suggest that the diplomats had been relegated to playing the role of ‘post office’ and were “just passing on official papers from all concerned to and fro without applying their mind”.

Sources said that officials at the Foreign Office consider “this policy to be the best policy to survive the testing times.”

According to official documents, both the Punjab government and the interior ministry had sent letters to the Foreign Office to come up with a clear stance on the Raymond Davis issue so a joint strategy could be framed before the next hearing of the case.

In a letter dated February 9, the Punjab government asked the interior ministry questions about Davis’ job description, whether or not he has diplomatic immunity, and whether he had authorisation to carry fire-arms.

The provincial government also sought footage of CCTV cameras installed at the US consulate in Lahore, the log book record regarding the movement of vehicles involved in the accident, and a copy of Davis’ passport.

The interior ministry’s crisis management cell’s Lt Col Umar Luk waited five days before writing to Sohail Khan, the director-general of the America Desk at the foreign ministry, calling for report to be filed on February 14.

The Foreign Office, instead of sending its report, forwarded the Punjab government’s correspondence to the interior ministry, which in turn forwarded it to the law ministry on February 18, where it “is now being examined”.

The Foreign Office also urged the law ministry to consult the interior ministry on the subject.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2011.