US seeks immediate release of Davis

ISLAMABAD - The US consul general in Lahore has called for immediate release of Raymond Davis, an American national arrested for gunning down two Pakistanis.

While addressing the media Friday night, Carmilla Conroy said that “Davis is an accredited employee of US embassy in Islamabad and enjoys complete diplomatic immunity under the Vienna convention, to which Pakistan is also a signatory”.

Conroy said that “the police had not taken into account the versions of eye-witnesses during the course of investigation”.

“Raymond acted in self-defence because the two youngsters were trying to stop him at gun point,” she asserted.

Davis was arrested Jan 27 on charges of shooting two youngsters dead at a busy intersection in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

Two separate cases, of murder and carrying illegal weapons, have been registered against Davis and further investigation is underway. He has claimed acting in self-defence before the court.

The head of the US consulate urged the authorities to “release Davis as per the diplomatic norms”.

Earlier, she called on Davis in Kot Lakhpat jail of Lahore. She discussed the case and the facilities being provided to him in the jail during the brief meeting.

Davis was sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand by a court Friday.

The capital city police officer (CCPO) Lahore, Aslam Tareen said Friday afternoon that “investigation has proved that Davis willfully murdered the two boys despite the fact that they had decided to run after the first fire”.

“We will challan him under the section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code,” he vowed. Section 302 of PPC deals with “murder by design” and can result in capital punishment or lifelong imprisonment.

The arrest of Davis has triggered a major row between the US and Pakistan. US officials have threatened to cut the $1.5 billion annual aid to Pakistan if Davis is not released, and Tuesday put bilateral contacts on hold