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| India-Pakistan | |
| Raymond Davis refuses to sign charge sheet | |
| 2011-02-26 | |
| [Pak Daily Times] Raymond Davis, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contractor charged with double murder after shooting dead two men in Pakistain, refused to sign a charge sheet in a court on Friday and insisted he had diplomatic immunity, lawyers said. The hearing in the murder case against Davis took place amid high security in Kot Lakphat Jail, where he is being held, and was adjourned until March 3. "Davis refused to sign the copy insisting that he be released and claiming that he enjoys immunity," public prosecutor Abdul Samad told AFP.
A separate legal process to determine the diplomatic immunity issues returns to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on March 14. Samad said that the immunity case before the LHC would not affect the murder charge hearings, unless the higher court barred them from proceeding. US Consul General Carmella Conroy and other American officials were present at Friday's hearing. Asad Manzoor Butt, lawyer for the families of the men who were rubbed out, rejected the American's immunity claim. "We have also received copies of the charge sheet. We will pursue this case as we want Davis to be punished for his act. We believe he does not enjoy immunity," he said. Washington is pushing hard for Pakistain to free Davis, arguing that he has immunity and backing his claim that he acted in self-defence. The US postponed a round of high-level talks with Afghanistan and Pakistain following failed attempts to get Davis out, and US politicians threatened to cut payments to Pakistain unless he is freed. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 hasn't the country already been lost to Islamists already? Not really. There's Islamists and 'islamists'. The latter view Islam like Nancy Pelosi views Catholicism: something to parade in front of the rubes and mine for a few politically useful tenets, but ignored privately. The former are the nut-jobs. They don't have control. Yet. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-02-26 20:03 |
| #9 that's actually a good point Newc but hasn't the country already been lost to Islamists already? |
| Posted by: Spaiter Schwarzeneggar2990 2011-02-26 12:33 |
| #8 Thanks, Pappy. Looking at this in terms of CIA vs ISI makes a lot of sense. This suggests the drone strikes and whatever else the CIA is up to are having quite an impact. And the last thing the ISI would want is for their role in Mumbai to come back up on the radar. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2011-02-26 12:28 |
| #7 He's clearly a bargaining chip, so the only question is whether the Paks want us to do something less, or, more likely, they want moar of something Part of the ISI's demands (in addition to "respect") is a list of all CIA contractors in Pakistan and a new CIA ROE (rules of engagement). It's also rumored that the ISI wants a NY lawsuit implicating the ISI chief in the Mumbai attack quashed. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-02-26 10:58 |
| #6 this is far bigger than just Davis. This is a region where if released, you will lose that province and maybe the country to islamists. |
| Posted by: newc 2011-02-26 10:49 |
| #5 He's clearly a bargaining chip, so the only question is whether the Paks want us to do something less, or, more likely, they want moar of something, either weapons or bribes. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-02-26 06:22 |
| #4 Didn't we tell the Paks that bad things were going to happen if they didn't release Davis? Yeah. Bad things like "We'll sieze your twitter account." |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-02-26 01:03 |
| #3 Have a predator shoot GUL and then ... talk... |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2011-02-26 00:40 |
| #2 I'm fascinated by how this is playing out with Pakistain behaving like a dog with a bone. John (Halp Us!) Kerry was unable to resolve it with whatever bag of goodies and threats he was kerrying (heh!). So what's the deal? Given the rug merchant culture, I'm guessing it is more than national prestige. Is Mr. Ten Percent holding out for a bigger payday? Is the ISI trying to crush the CIA once and for all? Who's on first? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2011-02-26 00:22 |
| #1 This is the State Dept.'s big test. They better pass. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2011-02-26 00:14 |