Pakistani court orders U.S. diplomat accused of double murder not to exit the country

Pakistani court orders U.S. diplomat accused of double murder not to exit the country

2011-02-17 22:55:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered U.S. diplomat Raymond Davis not to exit the country until the double murder case proceedings are completed.

According to Ary news television, Judge Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry barred Davis from leaving the country and also granted three weeks to the foreign ministry for filing its reply.

The case has caused tensions between Pakistan and the United States. Cameron Munter, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, said the government is disappointed that Pakistan did not certify that Davis has diplomatic immunity.

"Senator Kerry’s visit to Pakistan manifested our intention to work with the Government of Pakistan to resolve this issue." Ambassador Munter said. "As the Senator said during his visit, we want to work together as two countries that have a common interest in the same goal and find a path forward."

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator John Kerry visited Islamabad to meet with senior Pakistani government officials in an attempt to ease a political crisis over Pakistan's detention of an American diplomat.

The United States on Saturday announced that it postponed a planned trilateral meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan amid a growing political crisis. The North American nation had briefly suspended high-level talks with Pakistan over David's arrest.

On January 27, David, an employee of the U.S. Consulate, shot at two individuals riding on a motorcycle at Mazang Chowk, in Lahore. David claimed the victims were attempting to rob him and acted in self-defense.

Pakistan alleges that Davis is not a diplomat and neither the security agencies were aware about his visit to the Lahore area where the crimes took place. The case was adjourned until March 14.

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