Pakistan to try American for murder
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN will pursue murder charges against a United States consular employee suspected in the shooting deaths of two armed men possibly intent on robbing him, a top prosecutor said yesterday.
The government will likely come under domestic pressure to be tough on the American, who claims he acted in self-defense. Many Pakistanis regard the US with suspicion or outright enmity because of its occupation of neighboring Afghanistan and regular missile attacks against militant targets in Pakistan's northwest.
A third Pakistani was killed in the incident on Thursday in the bustling city of Lahore, allegedly after being hit by a US vehicle rushing to aid the American, who also in a vehicle.
Police officer Umar Saeed said the American, who has not been named, had told officers he had withdrawn money from an ATM shortly before the incident, raising the possibility the two men were following him. Officers have said the men were likely robbers, who were on a motorbike and were carrying pistols.
Rana Bakhtiar, deputy prosecutor general for Punjab, said the state would pursue murder charges.
"He has killed two men. A case is registered against him on murder charges," he said.
Bakhtiar spoke after the American appeared in a court in Lahore where judges ordered him to remain in police custody for six days.
Western diplomats travel with armed guards in many parts of Pakistan because of the risk of militant attack. Lahore has seen frequent terrorist bombings and shootings over the last two years, though the city's small expatriate population has not been directly targeted.
The government will likely come under domestic pressure to be tough on the American, who claims he acted in self-defense. Many Pakistanis regard the US with suspicion or outright enmity because of its occupation of neighboring Afghanistan and regular missile attacks against militant targets in Pakistan's northwest.
A third Pakistani was killed in the incident on Thursday in the bustling city of Lahore, allegedly after being hit by a US vehicle rushing to aid the American, who also in a vehicle.
Police officer Umar Saeed said the American, who has not been named, had told officers he had withdrawn money from an ATM shortly before the incident, raising the possibility the two men were following him. Officers have said the men were likely robbers, who were on a motorbike and were carrying pistols.
Rana Bakhtiar, deputy prosecutor general for Punjab, said the state would pursue murder charges.
"He has killed two men. A case is registered against him on murder charges," he said.
Bakhtiar spoke after the American appeared in a court in Lahore where judges ordered him to remain in police custody for six days.
Western diplomats travel with armed guards in many parts of Pakistan because of the risk of militant attack. Lahore has seen frequent terrorist bombings and shootings over the last two years, though the city's small expatriate population has not been directly targeted.
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