LAHORE A former law minister advised the government on Friday to send a reference to the Supreme Court on the issue of immunity claimed by US national Raymond Davis, the killer of two Pakistanis, and then implement whatever opinion expressed by the apex court. Dr Khalid Ranjha said while talking to TheNation that the reference could help settle the controversy going on for the past three weeks. He said in the present situation, the Supreme Court was the only institution whose decision would satisfy people. He recalled that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had also sent a reference to the apex court to seek its advice on the issue of recognizing Bangladesh. The Supreme Court, he said, could also take a suo moto notice of the matter and give an appropriate decision, treating it as question of human rights. In his opinion it would not be fair for the government to shift the burden on a sessions judge, who would have to try the accused on murder charge in case an out-of-court settlement was not possible. He said the government had the option of giving immunity to Raymond and setting him free, but it would have to pay a very heavy political price. He believed that nobody would accept a political decision taken by the government. Asked if payment of blood money (Diyat) by the accused party would not negate his claim about diplomatic immunity, the former law minister said the accused would have to choose between Diyat and immunity. When pointed out that the US could refuse to accept a court decision, as Senator John Kerry had already stated during his Pakistan visit that the matter did not fall in the jurisdiction of the court, the former law minister said Pakistan was also not accepting the US courts verdict against Dr Aafia Siddiqui, but was unable to get her freed. Answering a question, he said the matter could be settled by the accused party paying blood money to the aggrieved party. The heirs of the victims, he said, would have to declare before the court that they were making a compromise without any pressure. This done, the court would have no option but to acquit the accused, said Dr Ranjha About the case of illegal weapons registered against Raymond Davis, the former law minister said it was not a big issue. The major offence includes minor offence also.