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US lawmakers threatened Tuesday to cut aid to Pakistan, an important ally in the US' war on terrorism in Afghanistan, unless it frees Raymond Davis, who is said to be a US government employee detained over a shooting in Lahore last month. Three members of the House of Representatives drove home the point during a visit to Pakistan, starkly telling Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that the US Congress was working on its budget and looking for areas to cut, AFP reported. Davis was arrested January 27 after allegedly shooting two Pakistanis, saying he feared they would rob him. A third Pakistani was run over and killed by a US consulate vehicle that had come to assist Davis, according to police. Separately, prosecutors have also recommended that espionage charges be filed against Davis. "Keeping in view the nature of the case, it is strongly recommended that a case of espionage be registered against Davis," the prosecution branch of the Punjab police wrote in an official letter to the investigation branch. The police said they recovered a digital camera, a Glock pistol and a phone tracker along with a charger from Davis after his arrest. The incident has set off protests in Pakistan, where anti-US sentiment has long run high. Shumaila Faheem, the wife of one of the two men who was gunned down, committed suicide Sunday by taking poison, according to AFP. In the fallout, according to a Pakistani diplomatic source who spoke to Reuters, the US government has put at least some bilateral engagements on hold over the issue. Pakistani officials in Washington are reminding US officials of this fact. "We have political compulsions as well," the source said. |
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