7:36 AM
PESHAWAR: A court in northwest Pakistan Monday rejected the bail application of an American said to have been working for a private security company who is accused of overstaying his visa.
“The bail application of Aaron Mark De Haven has been rejected because he had no legal documents,” public prosecutor Javed Ali told AFP in Peshawar.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States are already strained over the arrest last month of a CIA contractor identified as Raymond Davis, who has been charged with murder for shooting dead two men in Lahore.
The United States, insisting that Davis has diplomatic immunity, is demanding his release.
De Haven was taken into custody on Friday from the Falcon Complex, a residential area in Peshawar.
Police say his Pakistani visa had expired in October, and that he was working for security contractor Catalyst Services, providing security and accommodation to foreigners working on development projects in the region.
On Saturday a court remanded De Haven in custody for 14 days and on Monday, a magistrate rejected defence lawyer Sardar Raza’s argument that he should be freed on bail because he had no prior criminal record.
The US embassy in Islamabad said Saturday that consular representatives had met De Haven, “as they would with any private American citizen”.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the Pakistani authorities and respect the Pakistani legal process,” an embassy statement said.
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