LAHORE, Pakistan, March 3 (UPI) -- A Pakistani court rejected U.S. CIA contractor Raymond Davis' petition to be freed from jail on diplomatic immunity grounds in the killing of two Pakistani men.
The provincial court in Lahore where Davis is being held in the Jan. 27 shootings, said Thursday neither he nor the Pakistani government had provided documentary evidence showing he is a diplomat, CNN reported, quoting an attorney for the families of the two slain men.
Davis has said the shooting was in self-defense during an attempted robbery and the U.S. government has been pressing for his release on grounds of diplomatic immunity.
The issue has deeply strained relations between the two countries with the Pakistani government insisting the issue is before the court which alone can decide it. Meanwhile, anti-U.S. feelings are running high in the country with protesters demanding the death penalty for Davis.
The provincial court postponed the case until next Tuesday, allowing time for documentation of charges to be given Davis' lawyers.
The proceedings were held behind closed doors at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail in the court of additional district Judge Yousuf Aujla, other reports said.
Separately, the Lahore high court has given the Pakistani government until March 14 to show whether Davis enjoys diplomatic immunity.
