Pak. rejects demand to release American diplomat
Pakistani authorities have rejected the demand of the U.S. to release an American diplomat who shot dead two youths in Lahore, saying the matter would be handled in court according to the country’s laws.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a TV news channel on Sunday that the matter was already in court and the Punjab Police were investigating the shooting incident in Lahore on Thursday.
“It would not be appropriate to publicly talk on this issue,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter raised the issue on Saturday with former premier Nawaz Sharif, whose PML-N party rules Punjab.
Mr. Munter expressed regret over the death of Pakistani nationals in the Lahore incident and contended that the American should be handed over to U.S. custody since he enjoyed diplomatic immunity.
Mr. Sharif “politely turned down the plea, saying that the matter was sub judice”, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday.
PML-N spokesman Pervaiz Rashid told the media that Mr. Sharif believed the matter should be handled by the court.
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