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US diplomat's case: Victims' families backtrack on commitment

The families of the men gunned down by US consulate employee Raymond Davis demanded the registration of a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against the American.

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Families of two alleged robbers shot and killed by a US diplomat today backtracked on a commitment that they would be amenable to the American being swapped for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist sentenced to 86 years in prison in the United States for terror links.

The families of the men gunned down by US consulate employee Raymond Davis demanded the registration of a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against the American.

"We will not allow the government to hand over Davis to the US," a relative of Muhammad Fahim, one of the two men who died in the shooting incident in Lahore last week, said at a news conference here.

The families announced they would organise a rally to the US consulate in Lahore to register their protest.

On Monday, Fahim's father Shamshad Ali had said that Davis could be handed over to the US if American authorities released Siddiqui and withdrew the charges against her.

"They (US authorities) should release Aafia or see Davis hanged," he had then said, rejecting all other options, including monetary compensation.

A US court sentenced Siddiqui last year to 86 years in prison after convicting her for shooting at FBI agents and American soldiers while in custody in Afghanistan.

Several Pakistani political leaders and parliamentarians have suggested that Davis, arrested after he shot and killed two men, who he claimed were trying to rob him, should be swapped for Siddiqui.

In a related development, interior minister Rehman Malik told the Senate or upper house of Parliament today that Davis would be treated according to Pakistani laws.

"The law will take its course and no favour will be done with the accused," he said responding to several point of orders raised by Senators.

Noting that Davis holds a diplomatic passport, Malik said federal and provincial governments will not hinder court proceedings against Davis.

"We will follow whatever the court says and will provide all information desired by the court regarding the case of the US citizen involved in the killing of two Pakistanis," he said.

Davis' name was included in the Exit Control List, a list of persons barred from travelling out of Pakistan, in accordance with an order issued by the Lahore high court, Malik said.

He said holding an open debate on this "sensitive issue" would be inappropriate as it could influence the investigation being conducted by Punjab Police.

He also dispelled the impression that the federal government was interfering in the matter.

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