Lahore High Court Chief Justice (LHC CJ), Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry here on Wednesday observed that federal government will decide whether or not American national Raymond Davis enjoys diplomatic immunity. The CJ however, denying to make the US government party in the petitions against Raymond Davis allowed to make the clipping of foreign and local newspapers about spying activities of Raymond as part of the court record.
The CJ passed this order while accepting an application of advocate Muhammad Siddique who also presented clipping of different newspapers and internet material comprising 225 pages. He submitted that accused Davis was involved in spying activities in Pakistan, which the US government itself had admitted. He said all the press clipping must be declared to be the part of the record. The court adjourned the hearing till March 14.
The court also accepted another application of Siddique requesting to rely on the photocopies of different material instead of demanding certified copies. Azhar submitted before the court that it was necessary to make the US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter be made necessary party in these petitions but the court said that their was no necessity to make the US government as party. The CJ held that it was the Pakistani government which would decide about the immunity of Davis therefore, implicating the US government in the case was unnecessary.
Advocate Siddique has already challenged the US-claimed diplomatic immunity to accused Davis under Vienna Conventions, and also the United Nations charter on safety and security of subjects of a nation. The applicant stated that under the Constitution of Pakistan none of the executive, including the president and the federal government, was authorised to extend immunity to its citizens or foreigners when such immunity includes risk to the nation of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2011

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