If the people of North Waziristan have been the victims of US drones firing deadly Hellfire missiles, the Lahorites got their first taste of the sharpshooting spree by Raymond Davis, a US gunslinger operating from the Lahore Consulate, which resulted in the tragic death of two Pakistani youth. When this US cowboy called a backup vehicle for his rescue, its jittery driver crushed to death another young Pakistani, culminating a bloody drama that is unprecedented in the country’s history.
What is shocking is that attempts were made by certain media and official quarters to distort the facts to apparently soften the public opinion in favour of the double murderer. How could the American national’s act be termed as one of ‘self-defence’, when no shots were fired at him, whereas he deliberately pumped bullets into the victims’ back? Why were the two victims, Faizan Haider and Faheem, declared as ‘robbers’, simply on the grounds that they carried licensed weapons? Even while Raymond’s status was unclear, there was more talk about his diplomatic immunity and less about prosecuting the criminal!
There are some unanswered questions in this case. Why is the US Embassy not disclosing the true identity, designation and role of this individual? What was Raymond’s covert mission in Mozang, which is one of Lahore’s most crowded centres? Was he a private security contractor and member of the notorious former Blackwater (now Xe Services)? Did his links with Lahore’s underworld and the militants have any role in the recent terrorist acts in the city? Is the US Consulate in Lahore a hub of anti-Pakistan activities? Why did Raymond Davis shoot to death only Faizan and Faheem so dramatically from amongst many other motor bikers in the crowded Qartaba Chowk (Mozang Chungi)? Truly, one cannot rule out the possibility that both victims may have been already known to their handler, Raymond, but fell out on some dispute that led to their cold blooded murder.
Moreover, the US government’s stance on the issue smacks of double standards. While the US has termed Raymond’s arrest and custody by the Punjab Police as illegal due to his so-called diplomatic immunity, it has conveniently forgotten how similar immunity of the senior Georgian diplomat involved in killing a 16-year old girl in a 1997 drunken driving car accident, in Washington DC, was revoked by the Georgian government on the US request. As a result of great public pressure, the Georgian diplomat was prosecuted under US law, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years in US prison.
A diplomat must follow a strict code of conduct and respect local laws and protocol. He is not expected to go around in a private car with fake number plate, GPS communication equipment, mask and weapons in the most crowded part of the city as was in Raymond’s case. A diplomat would not move out of his Consulate or Embassy premises on ‘special mission’ in the city’s interior and also not dress in a manner that Raymond was dressed up on that fateful day. In fact, he should thank his stars that he was saved by the police and escaped the vengeance of the Lahorites.
The fact that the US Embassy and the State Department have flip-flopped on Davis’ status in Pakistan makes the whole matter more sinister and only serves to add greater confusion to the episode. While immediately after the incident, he admitted his position as a Technical Advisor in the Lahore Consulate, America declared him as a bona fide US diplomat in the Islamabad Embassy, only to retract two days later and declare the murderer as member of the US Embassy’s technical and administrative staff. Reportedly, our Foreign Office does not recognise this appointment worthy of diplomatic immunity.
Many facts belie the US claim that he enjoyed diplomatic status. He, reportedly, visited Pakistan nine times on ‘official/business’ visas issued thrice since 2009 and was never listed as a diplomat with our Foreign Office. Hence, the US claim of his diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention is not likely to hold in the court of law.
Whether he is a diplomat or not is really not the issue. What is important is that two Pakistanis were brutally murdered in cold blood at point-blank range in broad daylight duly witnessed by hundreds of their fellow countrymen. Like in case of the Georgian diplomat, our government must reject the US claim seeking his so-called diplomatic immunity and try him under the Pakistani law. The US Embassy should also cooperate and show respect for human life and the Pakistani law, and voluntarily hand over the runaway driver of the backup Prado that crushed the unfortunate Obaidur Rehman and then fled to safety in Lahore’s US Consulate.
Many thanks to our Embassy in Washington DC, as well as the one in Dubai, which issued hundreds of visit visas to foreigners with unknown credentials and background without proper security clearance by the concerned agencies in Islamabad. The Foreign and Interior Ministries, as well as our security setups, would therefore be performing a national duty if not already done, to scrutinise and cancel visas issued to all such phony diplomats and dubious visitors, and ensure their expulsion from the country.
It is time that the nation must also be informed about the details, including the role and number of foreign personnel who are present in Pakistan under the cover of the Kerry-Lugar/USAID-related projects, anti-terrorism trainers and consultants in various government departments.
Anti-Americanism continues to rise among the common Pakistanis, who seem to be seething with anger at USA’s sense of justice. They ask, is it not hypocritical that while the frail Aafia Siddiqui is awarded an 86 years prison sentence by the US court on frivolous charges of merely pointing a weapon towards American soldiers during her unlawful detention in Bagram, it seeks the release of Raymond Davis - a killer of two innocent Pakistanis.
The Raymond Davis case is a crucial test case of our national leadership, as well as the judiciary, to assert the country’s sovereignty, uphold the rule of law, and provide justice to the families of the three Pakistani victims. Any attempt from any quarter to facilitate or influence the judiciary for a favourable decision in aid of the accused or appease the US for political mileage, may invite the nation’s wrath.
As a final word, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set a glorious example when he successfully rejected American pressure and went ahead with the nuclear blasts on May 28, 1998. Will Shahbaz Sharif emulate his elder brother’s historic decision and justify his claim to the title of Khadim-e-Aala Punjab?
What is shocking is that attempts were made by certain media and official quarters to distort the facts to apparently soften the public opinion in favour of the double murderer. How could the American national’s act be termed as one of ‘self-defence’, when no shots were fired at him, whereas he deliberately pumped bullets into the victims’ back? Why were the two victims, Faizan Haider and Faheem, declared as ‘robbers’, simply on the grounds that they carried licensed weapons? Even while Raymond’s status was unclear, there was more talk about his diplomatic immunity and less about prosecuting the criminal!
There are some unanswered questions in this case. Why is the US Embassy not disclosing the true identity, designation and role of this individual? What was Raymond’s covert mission in Mozang, which is one of Lahore’s most crowded centres? Was he a private security contractor and member of the notorious former Blackwater (now Xe Services)? Did his links with Lahore’s underworld and the militants have any role in the recent terrorist acts in the city? Is the US Consulate in Lahore a hub of anti-Pakistan activities? Why did Raymond Davis shoot to death only Faizan and Faheem so dramatically from amongst many other motor bikers in the crowded Qartaba Chowk (Mozang Chungi)? Truly, one cannot rule out the possibility that both victims may have been already known to their handler, Raymond, but fell out on some dispute that led to their cold blooded murder.
Moreover, the US government’s stance on the issue smacks of double standards. While the US has termed Raymond’s arrest and custody by the Punjab Police as illegal due to his so-called diplomatic immunity, it has conveniently forgotten how similar immunity of the senior Georgian diplomat involved in killing a 16-year old girl in a 1997 drunken driving car accident, in Washington DC, was revoked by the Georgian government on the US request. As a result of great public pressure, the Georgian diplomat was prosecuted under US law, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years in US prison.
A diplomat must follow a strict code of conduct and respect local laws and protocol. He is not expected to go around in a private car with fake number plate, GPS communication equipment, mask and weapons in the most crowded part of the city as was in Raymond’s case. A diplomat would not move out of his Consulate or Embassy premises on ‘special mission’ in the city’s interior and also not dress in a manner that Raymond was dressed up on that fateful day. In fact, he should thank his stars that he was saved by the police and escaped the vengeance of the Lahorites.
The fact that the US Embassy and the State Department have flip-flopped on Davis’ status in Pakistan makes the whole matter more sinister and only serves to add greater confusion to the episode. While immediately after the incident, he admitted his position as a Technical Advisor in the Lahore Consulate, America declared him as a bona fide US diplomat in the Islamabad Embassy, only to retract two days later and declare the murderer as member of the US Embassy’s technical and administrative staff. Reportedly, our Foreign Office does not recognise this appointment worthy of diplomatic immunity.
Many facts belie the US claim that he enjoyed diplomatic status. He, reportedly, visited Pakistan nine times on ‘official/business’ visas issued thrice since 2009 and was never listed as a diplomat with our Foreign Office. Hence, the US claim of his diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention is not likely to hold in the court of law.
Whether he is a diplomat or not is really not the issue. What is important is that two Pakistanis were brutally murdered in cold blood at point-blank range in broad daylight duly witnessed by hundreds of their fellow countrymen. Like in case of the Georgian diplomat, our government must reject the US claim seeking his so-called diplomatic immunity and try him under the Pakistani law. The US Embassy should also cooperate and show respect for human life and the Pakistani law, and voluntarily hand over the runaway driver of the backup Prado that crushed the unfortunate Obaidur Rehman and then fled to safety in Lahore’s US Consulate.
Many thanks to our Embassy in Washington DC, as well as the one in Dubai, which issued hundreds of visit visas to foreigners with unknown credentials and background without proper security clearance by the concerned agencies in Islamabad. The Foreign and Interior Ministries, as well as our security setups, would therefore be performing a national duty if not already done, to scrutinise and cancel visas issued to all such phony diplomats and dubious visitors, and ensure their expulsion from the country.
It is time that the nation must also be informed about the details, including the role and number of foreign personnel who are present in Pakistan under the cover of the Kerry-Lugar/USAID-related projects, anti-terrorism trainers and consultants in various government departments.
Anti-Americanism continues to rise among the common Pakistanis, who seem to be seething with anger at USA’s sense of justice. They ask, is it not hypocritical that while the frail Aafia Siddiqui is awarded an 86 years prison sentence by the US court on frivolous charges of merely pointing a weapon towards American soldiers during her unlawful detention in Bagram, it seeks the release of Raymond Davis - a killer of two innocent Pakistanis.
The Raymond Davis case is a crucial test case of our national leadership, as well as the judiciary, to assert the country’s sovereignty, uphold the rule of law, and provide justice to the families of the three Pakistani victims. Any attempt from any quarter to facilitate or influence the judiciary for a favourable decision in aid of the accused or appease the US for political mileage, may invite the nation’s wrath.
As a final word, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set a glorious example when he successfully rejected American pressure and went ahead with the nuclear blasts on May 28, 1998. Will Shahbaz Sharif emulate his elder brother’s historic decision and justify his claim to the title of Khadim-e-Aala Punjab?
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