Pak contradicts reports on understanding with US on Davis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Office on Wednesday contradicted media reports about any pronouncement being made on the diplomatic immunity of US official Raymond Davis, arrested after he shot and killed two men in Lahore last month.

"The spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry has contradicted reports appearing in the media about any pronouncement, public or official, made by the foreign ministry relating to the question of immunity of Raymond Allen Davis," said a brief statement issued by the Foreign Office.

"Speculation in this regard is unfounded," the statement said.

Speculation has gained ground in Islamabad that the US and Pakistan may be working on an arrangement to repatriate Davis following visiting Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry's remarks that the US Department of Justice will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting incident regardless of Davis' immunity.

Reports in Pakistani newspapers had said today that the government is expected to concede in court that Davis qualifies for diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention.

The Lahore High Court, which is hearing several petitions regarding Davis' diplomatic status, will take up the case tomorrow.

"The Lahore High Court will be informed that the US Embassy's notification of January 20 in respect of Raymond Davis, intimating his appointment as a member of the administrative and technical staff, made him eligible for immunity under the Vienna Convention," an unnamed official was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.