Immunity reply today

LAHORE The Foreign Ministry is to submit its reply to the Lahore High Court regarding Raymond Daviss diplomat immunity. A lower court judge, Muhammad Yousaf Aujal, on Tuesday last had adjourned the hearing of the double murder case till March 16. On that hearing the court could not frame charges against Mr Davis as his counsels had sought time, with the plea that they did not have the complete case record. Raymond Davis whose fate has become very important to be decided by the Pakistani judiciary as to a question whether he killed two Pakistanis Fahim and Faizan in his self defence as diplomat or being as a US spy feared of something allegedly intercepting in his ulterior motives like preparing positioning maps of Pakistan installation. Raymond facing double murder case in local court of Lahore repeatedly informed the court himself and through his counsels that he killed the persons in his self defense because he was a diplomat as US authorities formerly claimed Raymond as member of their technical and administrative staff also. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry had heard the petitions regarding Raymonds immunity as the Deputy Attorney General sought time from the court to reply on behalf of the Foreign Ministry. The Lahore High Court on the last hearing strongly directed the minister concerned to clear the status of Davis on March 14. On the other hand, a local court is continuing proceedings of the double murder case. On last hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Yousaf Aujal allowed the complete case record to be given to the counsels of Davis through prosecution when they made a request in this regard while seeking also time to prepare the case of Raymond. The local court had also repeatedly refused the claim of diplomatic immunity with its legal stance of unavailability of strong proof against the immunity. The court is continuing the in camera proceedings of the double murder accused in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Lahore with the routine production of handcuffed Davis before the court. On the last date of hearing, Punjab Advocate General Khawaja Haris Ahmad had submitted a written statement in Lahore High Court that Federal Government should and has to make aware Punjab Government about Daviss status and position. He informed the court about the different point of view of the US Embassy and US Consulate in Lahore about the factual place of employment of Raymond as well as his status as unbelievable till the solid proof (reply). As all the matter is with the LHC so far regarding its verdict and judgment about the diplomatic immunity (release) only in double murder case but it is pertinent to mention here that other matters like carrying of illegal weapons as well as high-tech gadgets are the other further question marks for the Daviss fate to be decided.

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