Pak tells Kerry that ‘only court will decide’ murder-accused US official’s fate

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Government has made it clear to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John F. Kerry that the case of double murder-accused US official Raymond Davis is sub judice and only the court will decide his fate, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan has said.

“The cabinet has directed that the courts be facilitated and it should be ensured that no one interferes in their proceedings,” the Daily Times quoted Awan, as saying.

The minister made these comments while addressing her maiden press briefing after the first meeting of the new federal cabinet.

Awan informed reporters that President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other leaders had told the Senator Kerry that “Pakistan does not interfere in other countries’ judicial matters”, and likewise it did not want any other country to meddle in the affairs of its judiciary.

She further said that the cabinet was briefed on Davis’ issue by the law minister, who also apprised it of various aspects of the matter, including legal ones.

Earlier this week, the Obama administration had dispatched Kerry to Pakistan to try to “help tone down the rhetoric and reaffirm the US partnership with Pakistan,” in the wake of the Davis detention issue. (ANI)