Islamabad: Pakistan's former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday asserted that US official Raymond Davis could not be granted ‘blanket immunity’ as desired by the Americans, even as a report said that the two countries were close to resolving their tiff over the issue.
Qureshi, who is bitter over his replacement as the foreign minister, said he was prepared to testify, if he was called by the Lahore High Court that is hearing petitions in this case.
Five days after he skipped the swearing-in ceremony for the new cabinet after the ruling Pakistan People's Party decided not to reallocate him the foreign affairs portfolio,
Qureshi said he had been told at a briefing in the Foreign Office on January 31 that it would not be possible to grant blanket immunity to Davis. His comments came as the ‘Dawn’ newspaper said in a report that the government's counsel is expected to testify on Davis' diplomatic status when the Lahore High Court reconvenes tomorrow.
The miffed PPP leader said this expert opinion was formulated at an inter-ministerial meeting held by the Foreign Office, the Interior Ministry and a ‘third institution’ that he did not identify.
He said he concurred with this opinion and conveyed it to the core committee of the PPP during a meeting held the same day.
"I examined the documents placed before me and in my considered opinion, I agreed with the Foreign Office's stand," he told a news conference.
He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed with his stance and informed parliament on February 3 that the issue of Davis is sub-judice and will be decided by a court of law.
Qureshi made it clear that he stood by his position on the issue of Davis, who was arrested after he gunned down two men in Lahore on January 27. The Pakistani leadership's rejection of repeated US demands to free Davis on the ground that he has diplomatic immunity has taken relations between the two countries to a new low.
The former minister also said he would present his views honestly if he is called to testify by the Lahore High Court, which is hearing several petitions related to Davis' diplomatic status.
"The Lahore High Court is hearing the matter and they may call me to testify ... If they call me, I will say what is right with honesty," Qureshi said in response to pointed questions on Davis' diplomatic status.
"Maybe I will suffer for telling the truth. I may have to pay a higher price for telling the truth (but) the time has come for us to hold up our heads for the sake of national prestige and interests and pay the price," he said.