“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

Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...
Spending restrictions
Updated 13 May, 2024

Spending restrictions

The country's "recovery" in recent months remains fragile and any shock at this point can mean a relapse.
Climate authority
13 May, 2024

Climate authority

WITH the authorities dragging their feet for seven years on the establishment of a Climate Change Authority and...
Vending organs
13 May, 2024

Vending organs

IN these cash-strapped times, black marketers in the organ trade are returning to rake it in by harvesting the ...