Raymond Davis has no diplomatic immunity:Pak Court

Lahore, Mar 3: US and Pakistan might be heading for a big showdown as a Pakistani court has ruled out diplomatic immunity for CIA contractor Raymond Davis, who is under trial for killing two men. The court has adjourned the hearing of the case until Mar 8.

Raymond Davis is accused of shooting two Pakistani men to death in Lahore, an act the US says was done in self defence against robbery attempts.

US has along been maintaining that Davis was considered a diplomat and is thus subject to diplomatic immunity, which means that he be freed of the charges and granted bail. The US had also retained Zahid Hussain Bokhari, a retired judge and a former government prosecutor to assist in the case.

Asad Manzoor Butt, a lawyer for the families of deceased men, was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying, "The court adjourned the hearing until March 8 because Mr Bokhari (the retired judge) said he needs time to complete papers for the case."

The case has put the Pakistani government in a spot of bother as it is torn between the pressure exerted by ally and donor USA's insistence on freeing Davis and the local public's demand on meting out justice.

US had in Feb 2011, sent influential senator John Kerry to persuade the Pakistani government to release Davis. US President insists that Pakistan must respect Vienna Convention and release Davis under diplomatic immunity.

OneIndia News