Armed U.S. Blackwater Mercenaries in Peshawar, violating Pakistani law.

LAHORE, Pakistan, 7 November 2009 (The News) - The Lahore High Court [LHC] on Friday directed the [Pakistan] Interior Ministry  and the Inspector General Police [Syed Kaleem Imam], Islamabad, to file reply by November 20 [2009] on a petition seeking to disarm the U.S. diplomats, [American] marines and other [American, Canadian, Israeli, Indian, British, Dutch, Australian and European] officials in Pakistan, besides registration of criminal cases against those [terrorists, spies and imperialists] found involved in spying and other anti-state acts in violation of diplomatic codes and the [Pakistan] laws of the land, who were caught red-handed but [illegally] released on the pressure of the Interior Ministry.

The petitioner, Hashim Shaukat Khan, Punjab President of Pakistan Watan Party [PWP], through his counsel Barrister Zafarullah [Khan], cited several incidents when the U.S., Dutch and other foreigners were caught roaming in Islamabad and other cities [of Pakistan] armed with dangerous weapons and spying instruments, but were [unlawfully] released on the orders of the Interior Ministry without any legal action against them. In a few incidents, they even beat up Pakistani citizens and misbehaved with the people, he added.

He pointed out that 202 members of [American] Blackwater [Xe Services]had landed at Islamabad airport in a PIA flight but the Interior Minister  on the American pressure, [illegally] let them go without going through the process of custom clearance. He said these [Blackwater-Xe] people should be charged with anti-terrorism and other [Pakistani and United Nations international] laws.

He said, even under the Constitution of Pakistan and Article 29 of the Vienna Convention 1961, the diplomats did not enjoy any immunity for criminal activities; rather they should be ousted from the country after declaring them persona-non-grata. He said the provision of security to all foreign diplomats is the responsibility of the Pakistan Government and no private foreign company [such as Xe Services (Blackwater USA) or DynCorp International] could do so.

He sought directions for the registration of criminal cases against all foreign nationals [including U.S. and Dutch government officials] who were apprehended with illegal weapons [in Pakistan]. He also requested that the list of all Americans and Dutch who are working in Pakistan, including workers of both the [U.S. and Netherlands] embassies and security staff, should be brought to the notice of the court.

Foreigners Violating Law?

LHC Seeks Reports From Interior Ministry, Islamabad IG LAHORE, Pakistan, 7 November 2009 (Daily Times) - The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Interior Ministry and the Islamabad [Police] Inspector General [Syed Kaleem Imam] on Friday to submit reports on violations [of Pakisan's laws] allegedly committed by U.S. and Dutch nationals.

Pakistan Watan Party [PWP] Punjab President Hasham Shaukat Khan had moved the LHC on Thursday, requesting legal actions against U.S. and Dutch nationals who were roaming the streets carrying heavy weapons and assaulting Pakistani citizens [in Pakistan]. Barrister Zafarullah [Khan], the petitioner's counsel, cited different [press-media] reports stating that [illegal] weapons were seized from U.S. and Dutch nationals. In other incidents, diplomats and marines of both countries [USA and Netherlands] beat up locals [citizens of Pakistan].

He said the accused [American and Dutch government terrorists] were [illegally] set free without initiating any [legal] action against them for violating the [Pakistan] laws of the land. He said diplomats did not enjoy any immunity from criminal acts, even under Article 29 of the Vienna Convention, 1961.

He asked the court to order the registration of criminal cases against all foreign nationals [including U.S. and Dutch government officials] who were apprehended with illegal weapons [in Pakistan]. He also requested that a list of all U.S. and Dutch nationals who are working in Pakistan should be presented in the court.

The International News (Pakistan)