Pakistan shows concern over U.S. 9/11 victims bill
Source: Xinhua   2016-09-14 23:30:07

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Wednesday showed concerns over the approval by the U.S. House of Representatives legislation which allows civil litigants relief against foreign individuals, entities and governments.

The law passed on Friday mainly aims at allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts.

The White House had announced the president will veto the law.

"Pakistan has been closely following developments leading to the passage of a law by the U.S. Congress, which allows civil litigants relief against foreign individuals, entities and governments," the Foreign Ministry said in Islamabad.

"Pakistan believes that the promulgation of national laws with extra-territorial application sets a dangerous precedent that is likely to further complicate an already complex global environment," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It said Pakistan is convinced that the world today is better served through initiatives promoting amity and cooperation, rather than xenophobia and confrontation, particularly, those targeting countries or religions.

The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in May, now reportedly heads to President Barack Obama's desk.

It would require votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate to override a veto.

Families of the Sept. 11 victims have used the courts to try to hold members of the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and charities liable because of what the plaintiffs charged was Saudi financial support for terrorism. These efforts have largely been stymied, in part because of a 1976 law that gives foreign nations some immunity from lawsuits in American courts.

Saudi officials have long denied that the kingdom had any role in the plot of the 2001 terror attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington D.C area and Pennsylvania.

Editor: yan
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Pakistan shows concern over U.S. 9/11 victims bill

Source: Xinhua 2016-09-14 23:30:07
[Editor: huaxia]

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Wednesday showed concerns over the approval by the U.S. House of Representatives legislation which allows civil litigants relief against foreign individuals, entities and governments.

The law passed on Friday mainly aims at allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts.

The White House had announced the president will veto the law.

"Pakistan has been closely following developments leading to the passage of a law by the U.S. Congress, which allows civil litigants relief against foreign individuals, entities and governments," the Foreign Ministry said in Islamabad.

"Pakistan believes that the promulgation of national laws with extra-territorial application sets a dangerous precedent that is likely to further complicate an already complex global environment," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It said Pakistan is convinced that the world today is better served through initiatives promoting amity and cooperation, rather than xenophobia and confrontation, particularly, those targeting countries or religions.

The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in May, now reportedly heads to President Barack Obama's desk.

It would require votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate to override a veto.

Families of the Sept. 11 victims have used the courts to try to hold members of the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and charities liable because of what the plaintiffs charged was Saudi financial support for terrorism. These efforts have largely been stymied, in part because of a 1976 law that gives foreign nations some immunity from lawsuits in American courts.

Saudi officials have long denied that the kingdom had any role in the plot of the 2001 terror attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington D.C area and Pennsylvania.

[Editor: huaxia]
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