“I stand with the people of Pakistan on the issue of American citizen Raymond Davis,” Gilani told reporters. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ruled out any 'back-door solution' to the case of an American official for whom Washington is seeking diplomatic immunity from trial in Pakistan for shooting to death two youths on a Lahore street.

“I stand with the people of Pakistan on the issue of American citizen Raymond Davis,” he told reporters after addressing a Seerat conference here on Monday.

“No back-door solution will be solicited as Pakistan has expressed differences on the matter with the United States on the basis of principles,” he said in reference to his government's stand that the issue of immunity would be decided by the court dealing with the matter.

When asked if his government was heading for a standoff with the Supreme Court by refusing to remove rehired retired officials, he said the issue was sub-judice.

He, however, reiterated his position that “all (state) institutions need to work within their ambit as laid down in the Constitution”. — Ahmad Hassan

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

THE FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth ...
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...