Islamabad, February 22: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has emphasized that his country will not compromise national interests over the shooting of two citizens by an American.
“We are a responsible government and conscious of the sentiments of our people,” media correspondent quoted Gilani as saying on Monday.
The Pakistani premier pointed out that for the past few days Pakistan’s attention has been focused on the killing of two civilians.
“There is a difference of opinion between Pakistan and the United States in the case of Davis on the issue of interpretation and applicability of international and national laws. This is because of ambiguity and inconsistency that is reflected in the available record,” he noted.
Raymond Davis, a former United States Special Forces soldier, shot and killed two Pakistani nationals in Lahore, Pakistan, on January 27 in what he said was a robbery attempt.
The case has strained ties between Islamabad and Washington.
Hundreds of Pakistanis staged street protests against the incident in various cities of the South Asian country, demanding that Davis be prosecuted.
A Pakistani intelligence official said the American was an undercover contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). However, Washington insists that Davis, who says he acted in self-defense, is a member of the United States embassy in the capital, Islamabad, who enjoys diplomatic immunity and should be released immediately.
—–Agencies