Gilani declines to comment on US ‘diplomat’s’ arrest

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has declined to comment on the arrest of American citizen Raymond Davis, who is charged with killing two Pakistani men in Lahore, saying that the matter was being probed by regional authorities.

Davis, a US consular employee, is currently on a six-day remand after he was produced in a Lahore court.

“The federal government is not silent. This matter is in the court, and the Punjab government is conducting an inquiry,” the Dawn quoted Gilani, as saying.

“I would not comment until the probe is completed,” he added.

Earlier, on January 27, three people were killed when Davis opened fire on motorcycle riders and hit another with his car in an attempt to escape from the scene at Mazang Chowk in Lahore.

Both the injured were shifted to Services Hospital where they were pronounced dead, while the third motorcyclist, who was also injured when hit by the speeding car, succumbed to his wounds during treatment in Services Hospital.

Davis, who was identified as a technical adviser with the US consulate, had told police that he shot the pillion riders in self-defence after they pulled a pistol on him in an attempted robbery. (ANI)