Thaindian News

Islamabad, Mar 16(ANI): Saudi Arabia or its embassy in Pakistan has no role to play in the case of double murder-accused CIA defence contractor Raymond Davis, who is currently under detention in a Lahore prison.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Ghadeer had separate meetings with Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Minister of State for Foreign and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar earlier this week, but no reference to the Davis case came in the course of these meetings, The News reports.

Highly placed Saudi embassy sources said that none of the embassy officials discussed the case with anybody in the host country, since it is purely a domestic matter of Pakistan.

“There is no justification whatsoever for any Saudi Arabian to interfere in such things,” the sources said.

“The Saudi ambassador is extremely busy with the subjects of bilateral interests and it is highly unfair to drag Saudi Arabia or its diplomats in any unrelated criminal case,” they added.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has also endorsed the views expressed by the Saudi embassy, and made it clear that the Saudi government and its embassy are not involved in any effort with regard to the Davis case.

“The government has made its position amply clear in the matter through Foreign Office’s submission before the Lahore High Court. There was no mention of any other country in that and hence the discussion about the Saudi Arabia must come to halt,” sources quoted the Foreign Office spokesperson, as saying.

However, according to an earlier media report attributed to diplomatic sources, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had met with Saudi Prince Naif on the sidelines of the Kuwati celebrations at the end of February, and the Davis issue had come up for discussion.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had also earlier said that the “Saudi” option remains open. (ANI)