Ruling out any move to hand over to US authorities its national involved with a double-murder case in Lahore, Pakistan's court directed the government on Tuesday to put his name on the Exit Control List (ECL), to prevent him from leaving Pakistan.
Raymond Davis, a US citizen, was arrested in Lahore on Thursday after gunning down two persons, Faizan, 22 and Fahim, 17, in broad daylight. A third person was killed when he was hit by a vehicle from the American Consulate in Lahore that was rushing to the rescue of Davis.
"I am restraining him (Raymond Davis) from being handed over to US authorities. Whether he has or does not have diplomatic immunity will be decided by the court," Lahore High Court's (LHC) chief justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry said in short court order.
"An order is issued to put his name on the exit control list. The case is adjourned for 15 days," it said.
With anti-American sentiments high, the government in Pakistan has been caught in a difficult situation of how to handle a case involving a citizen of a major donor country. According to sources, President Zardari came under immense pressure on Monday when a six-member US congressional delegation called on him and sought diplomatic immunity for the arrested US national.
A statement released by the US embassy in Islamabad read: "He enjoys diplomatic status and is immune from prosecution in Pakistan." Pakistan's foreign office and home ministry have so far not ascertained the status of the detained man. The government has asked the court on Tuesday f [...]
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