Raymond Davis issue "Refused to sign"

Raymond Davis the CIA official charged with a double murder case in Pakistan, refused to sign a chargesheet in court on Friday, insisting that he had diplomatic immunity. According to the chargesheet, Davis opened fire from inside his car on two men, Fahim and Faizan, and then shot, after coming out of his vehicle, twice on Faizan in his back who was running. The chargesheet mentioned that the accused later made some pictures of the deceased persons on his mobile phone and called someone through a wireless set to retrieve him. The hearing took place amid tight security in Lahore's Kot Lakphat jail where the US consulate officials were also present. Abdul Samad, the public prosecutor told media that Davis refused to sign the chargesheet copy, saying that he be released as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. Guarded by hundreds of police officials, Davis was produced handcuffed in the prison court. Asad Manzoor Butt, a lawyer for the families of the deceased men also appeared in the court and rejected the US immunity claim. "We have also received copies of the chargesheet. We will pursue this case as we want Davis to be punished for his act. We believe he does not enjoy immunity," he said. The Davis issue has put Pakistan's beleaguered government in a complex situation. The US authorities repeatedly insist that Davis enjoys diplomatic immunity and thus cannot be tried in Pakistan but the country's former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. who lost his job over the issue, says that he was told by his advisors that the US national was not covered by any blanket immunity. The government has so far not officially declared Davis's real status in Pakistan. The court trying Davis has set a deadline of March 14 for the government to decide his status. Given the public hostility, media's role and uproar by the religious parties against the release of Davis, it is hard to see how the government will resolve the issue. "Davis case is not so simple as it is sometimes portrayed by some. It is a complex case involving issues in national and international law as well as grave sensitivities that cannot be wished away," says presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar. "The court has not only taken cognizance of it but also declared that it will decide on the immunity issue. We respect the court and will wait for its verdict."