LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) admitted for formal hearing a petition requesting the court to make media reports regarding Raymond Davis part of the case record, DawnNews reported.

Petitioner Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique had stated that media reports regarding Davis' status should be made part of the record in the diplomatic immunity case so that the court's verdict takes various aspects of the case into consideration.

The applicant referred to various news items and reports in foreign media with respect to the US government’s intention that it had withdrawn from Vienna Convention having protocol on access to diplomat. According to a news item, the US had withdrawn from the optional protocol to Vienna Convention on Consular Rights Proposed in 1963.

The applicant said the then secretary of state Condoleezza Rice had informed UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan about her administrative decision to withdraw from the protocol in a letter of March 7, 2005. The applicant said America intended to move ICJ during the pendency of the current petition and there was possibility that either the US or Pakistan might take such action which could ultimately oust the jurisdiction of this court on the matter.

Moreover, on another petition filed by Siddique, LHC Chief Justice Ijaz Chaudhry remarked as to why the United States government should be made a party to the case.

The court subsequently adjourned the petitions' hearing to March 14.