Parcels for foreign embassies is not subjected to checks : US

Islamabad, Dec. 22 (ANI): Reacting strongly over Saturday's incident when Pakistani custom officials stressed on checking the diplomatic parcels at the Lahore airport, the United States has said parcels for any embassy including US can not be checked nor can any custom duty be clamped on them.

"All the diplomats and embassies have been granted diplomatic amenity, therefore, it was not necessary to search 10 parcels, which were brought at Lahore airport under this diplomatic amenity", The Nation quoted US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire, as saying.

A statement issued by the embassy also rejected reports about any altercation between the US Consulate General in Lahore and Pakistani customs officials at the Lahore airport regarding the receipt of routine diplomatic parcels.

"These reports were in error. The US diplomatic pouches that arrived on Saturday in Lahore were received without incident," the press release added.

It said that the Pakistan Foreign Office had allowed the US Consulate General in Lahore to receive the diplomatic pouches.

"Our spokesman is available to answer any questions regarding this or other matters involving the US Mission in Pakistan," the statement said. (ANI)