DATE=8/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-218074
TITLE=PAK / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS STRONGLY
CONDEMNED THE REPORTED REMARKS OF A U-S PROSECUTOR INVOLVED IN
THE TRIAL OF AIMAL KANSI. MR. KANSI IS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN THE
KILLING OF TWO CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICIALS. AS V-O-A
ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS, SECURITY HAS BEEN
TIGHTENED AT U-S OFFICES THROUGHOUT PAKISTAN.
TEXT: NEWSPAPERS IN PAKISTAN HAVE WIDELY REPORTED A STATE
PROSECUTOR IN THE KANSI CASE MADE DEROGATORY REMARKS ABOUT THE
PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN DURING A TELEVISION INTERVIEW IN THE UNITED
STATES.
ACCORDING TO A TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BY THE PAKISTANI EMBASSY IN
WASHINGTON, THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY IN THE U-S
STATE OF VIRGINIA SAID THE UNITED STATES DID NOT HAVE TO OFFER
A TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD TO CAPTURE MR. KANSI.
ACCORDING TO THE TRANSCRIPT, THE PROSECUTOR -- ROBERT HORAN --
REFERRING TO WESTERN PAKISTAN AND SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, SAID
QUOTE: "THIS IS NOT A HIGH-INCOME AREA. I AM SURE THE PEOPLE
OVER THERE WILL TURN IN THEIR MOTHERS FOR 20-THOUSAND -- NOT
ALONE TWO-MILLION."
V-O-A CONTACTED MR. HORAN AT HIS OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND
HE SAID THE QUOTE WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. HE DENIED
SPECIFICALLY LINKING THE STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN.
WHEN ASKED IF HE WOULD APOLOGIZE FOR THE STATEMENT, MR. HORAN
SAID ... QUOTE ... I AM NOT A DIPLOMAT; I AM A CRIMINAL
PROSECUTOR."
THE ATTORNEY'S REMARKS WERE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF MOST NEWSPAPERS
IN PAKISTAN MONDAY AND HAVE PROMPTED WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION FROM
OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH PAKISTAN TELEVISION, PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF CALLED THE STATEMENT SHOCKING AND SHAMEFUL.
// SHARIF ACT IN URDU THEN UNDER TRANSLATOR //
IT IS A VERY UNCIVILIZED STATEMENT AND HIS STATEMENT IS
FAR BELOW THE HUMAN VALUES -- AND WE CONDEMN THAT
STATEMENT. NOT ONLY I, BUT THE WHOLE NATION CONDEMNS
IT. HE HAS NO RIGHT TO ISSUE THESE SORT OF STATEMENTS
AND WE VOICE STRONG PROTEST OVER THE STATEMENT. WE ARE
SHOCKED AND IT IS SHAMEFUL AND I THINK THAT THE FEELINGS
OF THE WHOLE PAKISTANI NATION, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE
HURT AND FEEL RIGHT AND JUSTIFIED TO EXPRESS OUR
FEELINGS IN THIS REGARD.
// END ACT //
AIMAL KANSI WAS CAPTURED IN PAKISTAN IN JUNE AND RETURNED TO THE
UNITED STATES FOR TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH A JANUARY 1993
SHOOTING OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS IN
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA.
MR. KANSI'S CAPTURE WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND THE PROSECUTOR'S
REMARKS HAVE FUELED MORE CRITICISM OF THE UNITED STATES AND
PAKISTANI OFFICIALS WHO COOPERATED WITH U-S LAW ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITIES.
THE LATEST INCIDENT PROMPTED A PROTEST AT THE AMERICAN CONSULATE
IN LAHORE. ABOUT 30 PROTESTERS THREW BRICKS INTO THE COMPOUND
AND CARRIED SIGNS SAYING "WE DON'T SELL OUR MOTHERS."
IN KARACHI ,PROTESTERS REPORTEDLY BURNED THE AMERICAN FLAG AND
EFFIGIES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON.
U-S OFFICIALS IN ISLAMABAD HAVE ORDERED INCREASED SECURITY AT
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICES. ROADBLOCKS AND ADDITIONAL POLICE
HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED ON STREETS LEADING TO THE U-S EMBASSY IN
ISLAMABAD.
PAKISTAN HAS LODGED A FORMAL PROTEST WITH THE U-S GOVERNMENT. THE
AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN -- THOMAS SIMONS -- WAS CALLED TO
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, WHERE THE OFFICIAL PROTEST WAS DISCUSSED.
ACCORDING TO A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT, THE U-S STATE
DEPARTMENT HAS EXPRESSED ITS SINCERE REGRETS ABOUT THE REPORTED
REMARKS AND EMPHASIZED THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE
GOVERNMENT OR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/TMD/RRM
04-Aug-97 11:04 AM EDT (1504 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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