Pak Army too says only court can decide murder-accused US diplomat's case

Islamabad, Feb 10(ANI): The top brass of the Pakistan Army has supported the government's decision on the double murder-accused US diplomat Raymond Davis' case, saying that it is a sub judice matter and only the court was entitled to give a verdict in it.

Well-placed sources told The Nation that the Corps Commanders, who met at the 136th Corps Commanders' Conference at the General Headquarters, made these observations in the light of the talks held between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations press release, the conference was "part of regular monthly meetings", and was chaired by COAS Kayani.

"The forum took a comprehensive overview of the security situation in the country and discussed various professional matters. The participants expressed satisfaction over the state of operational preparedness of the Army," the press release said.

It is noteworthy that the United States has intensified its pressure on Pakistan to release Davis, with US lawmakers threatening to cut aid to Islamabad unless it frees him.

Davis, who shot two persons to death in Lahore on January 27 and is currently under police detention in Pakistan, holds a diplomatic passport and is a member of the "technical and administrative staff" at the US Embassy in Islamabad, "entitled to full criminal immunity in accordance with the Vienna Convention," the State Department said on Monday.

Last week, it seemed that the Pakistan government had made up its mind to release Davis, but the widow of one of his victims committed suicide on Sunday, which further complicated the matter. (ANI)