The killing of two motorcyclists by Raymond Davis took a new turn Saturday when the US embassy demanded his 'immediate release' claiming he had a 'diplomatic passport' with a valid visa while the Foreign Office in its response has claimed that the visa issued to the US national is not a diplomatic visa, highly well placed sources in the Foreign Office told this correspondent.
The US press release did not confirm whether the visa was a diplomatic visa, distinct from a diplomatic passport. The number of diplomats eligible for a diplomatic visa is bilaterally agreed and is on a reciprocal basis. Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit issued a statement saying "the matter is sub judice in a court of law and the legal process should be respected. The Punjab Police is handling the investigation and its report is awaited. For the above reasons, the Foreign Ministry has no substantive comments to offer".
However, highly well placed sources told Business Recorder that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the US Embassy acknowledging that Davis has a diplomatic passport but contending that he was not issued a diplomatic visa for Pakistan. Sources told this correspondent on condition of anonymity that the "establishment" was behind the issuance of this letter.
The statement issued by the US embassy notes "the diplomat, assigned to the US Embassy in Islamabad, has a US diplomatic passport and Pakistani visa valid until June 2012," and added that Raymond Davis was in 'unlawful detention'. US state department spokesman PJ Crowley did not confirm Davis' diplomatic status after the incident, however two days after the incident the US embassy in Pakistan issued a statement demanding his immediate release under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
The statement reads: "On January 27, the diplomat acted in self-defence when confronted by two armed men on motorcycles. The diplomat had every reason to believe that the armed men meant him bodily harm. We regret that this incident resulted in loss of life". The Embassy claimed that minutes earlier the two deceased, with criminal backgrounds, had robbed a Pakistani at gunpoint in the same area.
In addition, it said that Raymond Davis had identified himself as a diplomat and repeatedly requested immunity. "Local police and senior authorities failed to observe their legal obligation to verify his status with either the US Consulate General in Lahore or the US Embassy in Islamabad...Furthermore, the diplomat was formally arrested and remanded into custody, which is a violation of international norms and the Vienna Convention, to which Pakistan is a signatory.
"We greatly value the co-operation and partnership between Pakistan and the United States, which is vital to the interests of both countries. The US Embassy is committed to working closely with the Pakistani government to secure the immediate release of the diplomat, as required under Pakistani and international law," the statement added.
AFP adds: "When detained, the US diplomat identified himself to police as a diplomat and repeatedly requested immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the embassy said in a statement. It added, "Local police and senior authorities failed to observe their legal obligation to verify his status with either the US consulate general in Lahore or the US embassy in Islamabad".
"Furthermore, the diplomat was formally arrested and remanded into custody, which is a violation of international norms and the Vienna Convention, to which Pakistan is a signatory." The man, named as Raymond Davis and described by the US State Department as an American civilian working for the US consulate in Lahore, was held at a police station on double murder charges over the deaths of two motorcyclists.
A third Pakistani was crushed to death by a consulate car that went to help Davis following the shooting in a busy street in Lahore on Thursday. "The diplomat, assigned to the US embassy in Islamabad, has a US diplomatic passport and Pakistani visa valid until June 2012," the statement said.
Recalling the events that led to Davis's arrest, it said the diplomat acted in self-defence when confronted by two armed men on motorcycles. "The diplomat had every reason to believe that the armed men meant him bodily harm. Minutes earlier, the two men, who had criminal backgrounds, had robbed money and valuables at gunpoint from a Pakistani citizen in the same area."
The embassy expressed regret that "this incident resulted in loss of life" and said it was "committed to working closely with the Pakistani government to secure the immediate release of the diplomat, as required under Pakistani and international law". "We greatly value the co-operation and partnership between Pakistan and the United States, which is vital to the interests of both countries," the embassy said in its statement. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the US should respect Pakistan's courts and should raise the issue of diplomatic immunity there.
"The Punjab government respects the sentiments of the Pakistani public and wants to fulfil legal requirements," he told AFP in Lahore. US ambassador Cameron Munter telephoned Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday and sought his help to secure Davis's release, Sharif's spokesman Pervaiz Rashid said.
Sharif, whose PML(N) rules the politically important Punjab province, also told the ambassador that the matter was to be handled by the court, he said. Police said Friday that two handguns had been found close to the victims' bodies, but that they so far appeared to have no previous criminal record.
Imran Haider, the elder brother of one of the motorcyclists, 22-year-old Faizan Haider, claimed his brother only carried a pistol for protection and insisted the gun was licensed. A third Pakistani was crushed to death by a consulate car that went to help Davis following the shooting in a busy street in the eastern city. Rana Sanaullah has said that American influence would not be allowed to affect the criminal proceedings.