The singer was detained on February 13 at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Besides Rahat, his manager Maroof, owner of an event management company Chitresh Shrivastava, and two employees of Mumbai-based Foreign Exchange firm were detained and have been questioned at length about the source of the money.

Qureshi said that after studying the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963 and Pakistan’s Diplomatic Law of 1972, one could conclude that “the blanket immunity as being demanded by the US embassy was not valid”.

He said that after seeing relevant documents, it was his “considered opinion” that Davis did not enjoy diplomatic immunity. He had informed the Core Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party of his view on the subject.

He said an inter-ministerial meeting had also endorsed this point of view. Qureshi said that his stance on the Davis issue was principled and that he would stand by his position. He said that for him Pakistan’s sovereignty and dignity were most important and that if need be he would apprise the people of Pakistan of more facts.

Qureshi, who stepped down earlier this month during a Cabinet reshuffle but retains influence, reiterated this stance after a meeting with Chairman US Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry — an indication that the American politician may have a rocky time convincing Pakistan to free 36-year-old Raymond Davis, a US consulate employee who shot and killed two Pakistani men in Lahore last month in what he said was a robbery attempt.

Second, at a time the judiciary is questioning the role of the political government in managing the permanent executive and demanding answers as to why certain state-appointed officials are given extensions or contract jobs, it ill behoves the judiciary to be seen to be favouring its own. For his meritorious and stellar service to the judiciary and the people of Pakistan, Justice Ramday in particular deserves praise. But institutions are best strengthened by denying the myth of indispensability. Justice Ramday has already received a one-year extension, which is to expire today. Every institution, be it uniformed, robed or civilian, must learn to move on from the era of even the greatest servants of the people.

Third, the country has seen in recent months how maturity on the political and judicial sides helped avert a ‘clash’ of institutions — and all sides have a responsibility to ensure the more amicable climate holds. The superior judiciary today is one of the freest and most independent in this country’s history and clearly enjoys the support of the people. In a country where institution-building has been ignored, and at times scuttled by self-interest, the present superior judiciary represents the best chance to build a solid, responsible and competent institution responsive to the needs of the citizenry. So anything which detracts from that perception and the ultimate mission of institution-building ought not to be welcomed.

Source

Pakistan’s ties with the United States have gone into crisis since police arrested Raymond Davis, who confessed to killing two men in self-defence on a busy street in the eastern city of Lahore on January 27.

Washington supports his claim and says he is a diplomat who should be released immediately in keeping with international law.

“We have always abided by international laws and conventions,” Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) spokeswoman Fauzia Wahab told reporters in Karachi. “Davis has an official business visa, so why argue and why we are risking our overall good reputation before the rest of the world?”

“America is the largest market for Pakistan, with whom we earn four billion dollars. Most Pakistanis who live in the United States send bulk of remittances to us to support our economy,” said Wahab.

The DRI has impounded Khan’s passport along with the passports of his two associates Mahroof and Chitresh, who also have been set free.  According to reports, Khan and his associates have been asked to appear for questioning before the DRI on February 17.

The DRI is set to estimate the fine to be paid by the Pakistani singer. Earlier today, revenue intelligence officials questioned the singer extensively to find out where the money came from and why it was not declared.

Khan was detained on Sunday for allegedly attempting to leave the country with over 124,000 dollars. Indian laws allow up to 5,000 dollars in cash, or 10,000 dollars in traveller’s cheques to be taken abroad. Khan, along with his troupe of about 20 people, was scheduled to fly to Lahore on a Emirates flight after a series of performances in India.

They said the singer was carrying a huge amount of foreign currency which he did not declare to the immigration authorities. Two other persons accompanying him have also been detained, the sources said. Khan is being questioned and the amount of the money is being ascertained, they said.

The 37-year-old is nephew of Pakistani singing legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Vice President Omar Suleiman said a military council would run the affairs of the Arab world’s most populous nation. A free and fair presidential election has been promised for September.

A speaker made the announcement in Cairo’s Tahrir Square where hundreds of thousands broke down in tears, celebrated and hugged each other chanting: “The people have brought down the regime.” Others shouted: “Allahu Akbar (God is great).

The 82-year-old Mubarak’s downfall after 18 days of unprecedented mass protests was a momentous victory for people power and was sure to rock autocrats throughout the Arab world and beyond.

Prosecutors in New York called her an al-Qaeda sympathiser and sought life imprisonment. Prosecutors used notes she was carrying at the time of her arrest, which included instructions for making explosives and a list of New York City landmarks, as evidence that she was a potentially dangerous terrorist.

Siddiqui’s lawyers argued she was mentally ill. Siddiqui is a neuroscientist who had studied at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US before marrying a relative of accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and returning to Pakistan.

In a statement before the court on Thursday she denied allegations she had been tortured while in jail in the US. “This is a myth and lie and it’s being spread among the Muslims,” she said.

“I do not want any bloodshed. I do not want any misunderstanding. I really want to make peace and end the wars.”