LONDON – The Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL), a team of
Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, and Judges in UK has
noted with great anguish and expressed its concerns on the extra
judicial killing of at least three people by a foreigner Raymond Davis
at Qartaba chowk Mozang (Lahore) on Thursday 27 Jan.
APL has condemned in the strongest words the free movement of
diplomatic staff without protocol and prior permission bringing public
safety and state security to a questionable risk quite contrary to the
spirit of Vienna Convention and Counsellor relations.
APL has sought Justice in the killings of 3 Pakistani citizens at
Lahore involving USA mission staff demanding the Chief Justice of
Pakistan and the Govt of Pakistan to ensure justice which is seen to
be done to avoid miscarriage of justice, and inequality. This is the
biggest test of the current civil administration since its election on
February 2008, as if they are a little negligent, it will pave way for
public outcry akin to Tunisia which have the potential to smite all
who stand in between justice, fair play, equality and the free motion
of the law of the land.
APL has demanded that all those involved in such crimes must be
brought to books in accordance with the law of the land. APL reminded
that no leniency was shown in the case of Dr Afia Siddiqui and law of
the land prevailed in USA so must be the case in this murder probe and
stern action must be ensued against perpetrators to avoid public
outrage due to prevailing hatred present in the society due to ongoing
war on terror. APL observed that criminals must be treated as
criminals not as ‘Pakistani’ criminals and or ‘USA’ criminals and same
treatment must be bestowed what would have been meted out to any
diplomatic staff belonging to Pakistan if involved in similar charges
in USA.
Only justice may provide temporary relief in this tragic episode.
APL observed that Vienna convention gives immunity to only listed top
level diplomats and all at sundry at embassy is not automatically
exempt or immune from criminal prosecution. APL noted that Western
laws are very clear in this regard as we saw in January 2011,that an
Indian diplomat Anil Verma left UK due to fear of prosecution when his
wife complained of a domestic violence and a debate ensued in UK
inviting the Govt to probe the matter despite diplomatic immunity. On
20 October 2010 a Saudi prince Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud has
been jailed for life for murdering his servant Bandar Abdulaziz, 32,
who was found beaten and strangled on 15 February 2010 at a hotel in
central London. The prince was convicted and sentenced on the murder
charge of his servant despite claiming immunity.
In this context murder whether intentional or unintentional is a
serious crime against state and unless proper probe is conducted &
completed and a judicial process takes place, the arrested US diplomat
must not be allowed to leave the jurisdiction without judicial
oversight as no one is above the law as per the Constitution of
Pakistan 1973. It will be a survival test of the govt of Pakistan in
the light of Dr Afia Siddiqui’s arrest, detention, trial, conviction
and sentence post severe protest of Pakistani public and still United
States law of the land prevailed and so must be the case in respect of
the law of Pakistan. Having said that parity must be maintained
ensuring Raymond Davis and his colleagues a counsellor access
forthwith, and a fair trial, with access to their lawyer of choice
with interpreter, food and medical aid, APL concluded.
Chair / Secretary Association of Pakistani lawyers
Friday, 28 January 2011
Note to Editors
Links:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349671/Anil-Verma-Indian-diplomat-assaulted-wife-ordered-leave-Britain.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11581728
http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E-Paper/Lahore/2011-01-29/page-1/detail-1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2011/01/110129_us_calls_diplomat_release_zz.shtml
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