Dispute over blood money

Pakistani security officials escort Raymond Allen Davis. Photo / AP

The lawyer for an American CIA contractor facing murder charges in Pakistan says paying blood money to the relatives of his victims is the best way to free the man.

Attorney Zahid Bokhari said yesterday the families were under pressure from the public and political parties not to accept such a deal.

Relatives of the two victims shot by Raymond Allen Davis and a third man killed by an American vehicle rushing to the scene said this week they were not interested in receiving money from the United States.

They also said United States officials had contacted them. Pakistani law allows murder suspects to be set free if they compensate the heirs of their victims.