Pakistani court to proceed with CIA employee trial

[cal04]

Source: USA Today

A Pakistani court said Thursday it would proceed with the trial of an American CIA contractor arrested for shooting dead two Pakistanis, but held off on charging him, lawyers for both sides said. The court also said there was no evidence that Raymond Allen Davis had diplomatic immunity as his lawyers and Washington insist, they said.

The decision was a blow to Washington, which says Raymond Allen Davis is considered a diplomat and has protected status from prosecution. The immunity issue, however, is still being considered by the Lahore High Court, which could override Thursday's finding by the trial court.

The case has severely strained the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, whose alliance is considered a critical part of ending the war in Afghanistan. Washington insists Davis was acting in self-defense against robbers. The Pakistani government, fearful of public backlash, has yet to make a determination on whether Davis has immunity and said the matter is up to the courts.

Davis appeared for the first time with defense counsel during Thursday's hearing.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-03-03-cia-contractor-pakistan_N.htm

[montanacowboy]

1. Good

Diplomat my ass

[MikeW]

3. fairs fair ... start putting pakistani diplomats in jail

[NeoConsSuck]

4. Totally agree.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. The US needs to cause Pakistan some serious pain over this

Diplomatic immunity is inviolable. The US needs to start sending their diplomats home and restricting those in the UN as the ones from the USSR were. All aid needs to be deferred as well.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Perhaps if we got out of the war business

shit like this would decrease