Raymond Davis case – We can’t afford double standards, say senators

ISLAMABAD – Urging the government to convey to the United States that the issue of Raymond Davis would be decided in accordance with the law of the state, senators on Tuesday said Pakistan could not afford discriminatory double standards.
“The US should be given the message that Pakistan cannot afford double standards and all people, including foreigners, are equal before law of the state and the issue of the US citizen, who allegedly killed two persons in Lahore, will be decided according to law of the country.
If a Pakistani is held for violating a law in the EU or the US, we are told that they cannot do anything as the matter is in the court. We want the same supremacy of laws here in Pakistan,” Rabbani said while speaking in the Upper House on a point of order. He also said if the Vienna Convention provided immunity to diplomats, it also implied certain obligations.
Senator Professor Khurshid said it was reported that the US embassy was pressurising the government of Pakistan for Davis’ release on the ground of him having immunity whereas it was reported in a foreign newspaper that he belonged to a private security agency and was not a diplomat. He said mass protests would start if he was set free. Professor Khurshid also asked the government to clear its position in this regard.
Senator Humayun Haroon demanded the person whose vehicle knocked down and killed a third Pakistani should also be produced before the court. Senator Tariq Azeem asked the government, the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office to check the complete data of diplomats in Pakistan and ensure if Davis’ name was included in the list or not.
“Unless the official record is checked to ensure that Raymond Davis was a diplomat, the issue of his immunity cannot be decided,” Azeem said. Condemning the incident, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour said the killer should be brought to justice. Senator Seemi Siddqui, on a point of order, said she had initiated a development scheme in Karachi two years ago but the work had not been started hitherto owing to non-availability of funds.
Senator Jamal Laghari said he too was being deprived of the parliamentarian funds.
Leader of the House in the Senate, Nayyar Bokhari said the parliamentarian funds had been transferred to the Cabinet Division after the devolution of the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development. He, however, said the matter would be discussed with the Cabinet Division for availability of the funds.