LAHORE, Feb 28: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday issued a notice to the federal government on a civil miscellaneous application challenging the alleged facilities being provided to US citizen Raymond Allen Davis, a double-murder accused, in the Kot Lakhpat Jail.

He alleged the accused was enjoying facilities of a cellular phone, internet and extraordinary tight security in violation of jail manual. He also prayed to the court to order recording of Davis trial in jail.

The applicant said Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Naveed Inayat Malik, who represents federation in the court, be directed to file on March 14, the next hearing on the main case, a report regarding developments and progress in Raymond Davis case and not to waste the court's time by dilly-dallying.

He said the DAG be also directed to inform the court about actual identity of the accused if it had been established, and any pressure on the government from any corner to tamper with the original documents of the US citizen in a bid to accord him undue diplomatic immunity.

Jaffrey also prayed to the court that former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi should be summoned for recording his statement as he had been saying Davis enjoyed no diplomatic immunity.

After hearing the contention, the chief justice asked the DAG to file a reply on the application by March 14. ETPB:

Justice Asad Munir of the LHC directed the Evacuee Trust Property Board counsel to explain the board's position on March 2 in a petition filed by nine employees against their transfer orders allegedly made on political reasons.

Ghulam Sarwar, a deputy secretary in BS-18, and eight other employees moved the court to set aside their “illegal” transfer orders and said ETPB chairman Asif Hashmi issued their transfers orders to far-flung areas after they had pointed out some irregularities committed by the chairman.