Pak court approached for charging Davis under anti-terror act

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Feb 14 (PTI) A Pakistani court was todayapproached to direct authorities to charge the Americanofficial who gunned down two men here last month under theAnti-Terrorism Act, even as police has stepped up security ofthe prison where he is kept under detention.

The brother of Faizan Haider, one of the two men shotand killed by Davis in Lahore on January 27, Iqbal Haidersubmitted an application in the judicial magistrate''s courtthat asked the judge to direct authorities to book US nationalRaymond Davis under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, whichstates that any person who causes a death during a terroristact will be punished with death.

Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani police official todayreviewed security arrangements in and around the KotlakhpatJail to ensure the safety and protection of Davis arrested forshooting and killing two men last month.

Davis has said he acted in self-defence as the two menwere allegedly trying to rob him.

Police have rejected his claim and charged him formurder. Judicial Magistrate Aneeq Anwar asked police toproduce the records of Davis'' case at the next hearing onFebruary 19.

Haider alleged in his application that Davis hadkilled "two innocent citizens" with a weapon of prohibitedbore and that he should be charged under the Anti-TerrorismAct.

Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, the DIG (Prisons) forLahore region, toured the jail where US national Raymond Davisis being held after a court remanded him to judicial custody.

Officials said Davis is being kept in ahigh-security barrack guarded by an armed contingent ofwardens and law enforcing personnel.

Davis is being served food according to the jailmanual and medical facility, if needed, will be provided tohim, they said.

Baig and Kotlakhpat Jail Superintendent MalikMushtaq Ahmad inspected the barrack and expressed satisfactionat the security arrangements, officials said.

Davis was arrested in Lahore on January 27 after hegunned down two men he claimed were trying to rob him.

The US has demanded that he should be freed as he hasdiplomatic immunity.