LAHORE: Senior officers of Punjab police were denied access to the US Consulate premises they wanted to visit on Tuesday to 'arrest' American citizens wanted by police in a 'murder' case.

Motorcyclist Ibadul Rehman was crushed to death on Jan 27 by a vehicle which was allegedly occupied by colleagues of Raymond Davis who had earlier shot dead two motorcyclists in Mozang.

According to sources, police team headed by Civil Lines SP (investigation) Capt (retd) Liaquat Ali Malik went to the consulate office at 10:25am on information that some foreigners, wanted by police in the 'murder' of Mr Rehman, were hiding there.

But consulate's security personnel stopped them at the main gate for having gone there without taking prior approval and informing authorities concerned about the purpose of visit. Some officials of the consulate reportedly expressed 'annoyance' over the unscheduled visit by police officials in uniform.

The consulate's regional security officer Agha Tanveer Husain met the police team outside his office and said he had not received any instructions from the US Embassy to provide any information to law-enforcement personnel.

The SP informed Mr Husain about contents of the FIR registered with the Lytton Road police and alleged involvement of American citizens and vehicle used by them in the killing of a Pakistani youth.

The police officers left the place without acquiring any information about the murder case.