US urges Pak to follow intÂ’l obligations

[Waqas 48]

WASHINGTON: US has asserted that courts in Pakistan have no jurisdiction over Raymond Davis, who is accused of killing two persons in Lahore, and he needs to be released immediately as he has diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention."We believe that diplomatic immunity (to Davis) is a fact. From our standpoint, it is not a matter in dispute. It''s certainly not a matter that should be resolved by courts in Pakistan," State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news conference.Noting that there will be a hearing at the Lahore High Court today, Crowley said the US will present a petition to the court that he in fact has diplomatic immunity."We believe he should be released. We continue to press that point with the Pakistani government," he added.Crowley said Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, during his two-day trip to Pakistan made clear to the authorities there that with such incidents it is practice of the US government to conduct its own criminal investigation."We intend to follow that practice here. But it remains our view he has diplomatic immunity and should be released," he asserted.The Department of Justice, according to Crowley, has said, the US as a normal practice would itself investigate incidents involving American citizens overseas where there has been a loss of life."We are prepared to do that. And obviously where that investigation would lead, I can''t say," he said.Alleging that Pakistan has not followed through on its international obligations, Crowley said the US continues to stress that he has diplomatic immunity."The issue should not be a matter for the courts, and he should be released. But because we are in the situation that we''re in, we are clarifying that we are prepared to investigate this matter as well," he said. (Online)