Davis'' weapon-related case to be heard in-camera in jail

M ZulqernainLahore, Feb 26 (PTI) A Pakistani court has decided tohold in-camera proceedings in jail in a case of possession ofunlicensed weapon against CIA contractor Raymond Davis,arrested for shooting and killing two men in this eastern citylast month.

Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Aneeque Chaudhryyesterday accepted a petition filed by prosecutors that soughtpermission for proceedings against Davis to be held in KotLakhpat Jail for security reasons.

The case relates to a charge of possessing anunlicensed weapon.

Proceedings in a separate case in which Davis has beenaccused of murdering two men began in Kot Lakhpat Jailyesterday.

That case has been adjourned till March 3.

Police had filed a case against Davis on January 28 inwhich they booked him under the Arms Ordinance for carrying anunlicensed weapon.

"On the request of the Home Department, we filed anapplication in the court of Judicial Magistrate MuhammadAneeque Chaudhry to seek permission for getting Davis tried bythe court in Kot Lakhpat Jail due to security concerns,"Additional Prosecutor General Abdus Samad said.

In a related development, the Jamaat-ud-Dawah andJamaat-e-Islami yesterday organised protests in Lahore afterthe Friday prayers to pressure the government not to releaseDavis.

They warned the government of countrywide protests ifDavis'' case is settled out of court.

Davis was arrested in Lahore on January 27 after heshot and killed two armed men he claimed were trying to robhim.

Police rejected Davis'' claim that he acted inself-defence and have booked him for murder.

The case has been complicated by revelations thatDavis was working as a security contractor for the CIA.

The Pakistan government has rejected repeated USdemands for Davis to be freed on the grounds of diplomaticimmunity and relations between the two countries have plungedto a new low.