851 US nationals enjoy diplomatic immunity in Pakistan

Islamabad, Feb 25(ANI): The United States has 851 officials with diplomatic immunity in Pakistan, which is also the largest number of such officials among all nations with diplomatic missions in the country.

The number of US diplomats in Pakistan came out after a list of foreign nationals holding diplomatic immunity was presented in the National Assembly, the Dawn reported.

According to the list, 1,919 diplomatic and 651 non-diplomatic officials from 78 countries enjoy diplomatic immunity in Pakistan.

The list specifies that out of the 851 US officials that possess diplomatic immunity in the country, 554 officials are diplomats whereas 297 are non-diplomatic staffers.

Moreover, it details that the US has 425 diplomatic and 285 non-diplomatic staff in Islamabad, 50 diplomatic and eight non-diplomatic officials in Peshawar, 49 diplomatic and three non-diplomatic officials in Karachi and 30 diplomatic and one non-diplomatic official in Lahore.

According to the Foreign Ministry figures, Pakistan has 170 officials from the United Kingdom, 168 from Saudi Arabia, 56 from Germany, 117 from India, 66 from Afghanistan, 60 from Italy, 28 from Turkey, 64 from Iran, 87 from China and 41 from Canada.

The revelation has been made in the wake of the dispute over the immunity status of double-murder accused US diplomat Raymond Davis, who is currently under detention in a Lahore prison.

To avoid a popular backlash in a country where anti-Americanism is rife, Pakistani officials have said that the matter is sub judice and up to the court, even though the US insists the Davis' detention is illegal under international agreements, and that he must be released on the grounds of diplomatic immunity. (ANI)