The former foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. – File Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Wednesday that foreign office documents proved that Davis was not immune from criminal prosecution and that the sensitive case would be decided by the court, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to the Rawalpindi District Bar, Qureshi revealed that the US ambassador had threatened to cancel Qureshi’s meeting with Hilary Clinton in Germany if Raymond Davis, a US national who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, was not awarded diplomatic immunity. Qureshi said he did not oblige and did not compromise on the sensitive matter.

"The whole nation is unified on the independence of the judiciary...free judiciary will help bring foreign investment," said Qureshi. "Lawyers' role in ending dictatorships and restoring democracy cannot be ignored," he added.

Qureshi appreciated the role of Bar and Bench for the fight of restoring democracy in the country.

"Accountability is possible only by good governance and transparency...lawyers would have to continue their struggle for strengthening democratic institutions as they have done in the past," said the former minister.