Taliban warns Pakistan against releasing Raymond Davis

Tribune

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taliban warned the government on Tuesday it would punish any move to release a US consulate employee accused of murdering two Pakistanis in a case that has inflamed already strained ties with Washington.

“If (Pakistani) rulers hand him over to America then we will target these rulers. If Pakistani courts cannot punish Davis then they should hand him over to us,” said Azam Tariq, spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Taliban movement of Pakistan).

“We will give exemplary punishment to the killer Davis.”

The warning from the al-Qaeda linked Taliban, which has kept up suicide bombings to destabilise Pakistan’s government despite several army offensives, underscores the charged atmosphere surrounding Davis’ case.

US Senator John Kerry was due in Pakistan as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to resolve the crisis.

Raymond Davis, the US consular employee jailed in Lahore for shooting two Pakistanis last month, says he acted in self-defence during an armed robbery.

Washington insists Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released but the Pakistani government, fearful of a backlash from Pakistanis already wary of the United States and enraged by the shooting, says the matter should be decided in court.

On Thursday, the United States is expected to present a petition to a Lahore court to certify that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released.

Religious parties don’t win many votes in elections. But the government can’t afford to ignore the groups who often seize on issues concerning the United States to promote their cause.

“Of course he (Davis) should not be released. He has committed a crime and he should be punished. He doesn’t have immunity,” said Yahya Mujhaid, a spokesman for Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which was blacklisted by the UN over its links to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group blamed for the 2008 attack on Mumbai. It denies it has links to the LeT.

“If he is released, we will register our protest but in a peaceful way. We will hold rallies … Not only us, the whole of Pakistan will protest against any such move.”

Supporters of the slain men have held protests and burned US flags. In addition to the two men Davis shot, a third man was killed when a U.S. consulate vehicle, apparently trying to rescue Davis, struck and killed a passer-by.

Altaf asks people to brace for revolution

The News
Altaf Hussain said if US decided to release Dr Aafia,we would try to convince families of people to accept blood money n forgive Davis
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said a revolution of patriotic Pakistanis on the pattern of the French Revolution is knocking on the door of the country, and asked “patriotic army generals” to get ready to save the sovereignty of Pakistan.

He has further said that if the US agrees to release Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the heirs of the two young men shot dead by American national Raymond Davis could be requested to pardon him.

Hussain was delivering a telephonic address to a huge audience gathered to welcome former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz at ë90’ in Azizabad on Friday.

Nawaz was accorded a rousing welcome as he was received by MQM Rabita Committee members headed by Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar. The party workers were chanting “Altaf, Altaf” slogans and waving MQM flags.

On the occasion, Hussain asked Nawaz to work with dedication and, as like his impressive bowling, he was supposed to bring the wealth looted by the corrupt elements back to the country.

The MQM chief advised the former Test cricketer to work like any other MQM worker and shed his ego since he had now joined the Muttahida.

Nawaz responded by saying that he would serve the MQM just like an ordinary worker under his (Hussain’s) leadership.

The MQM leader once again said that the corrupt people should not be allowed to escape and they should be hanged publicly. He said that the people should now understand that the time had come to eliminate corruption from Pakistan and for this a revolution had been knocking on the door of the country.

He once again reiterated that all those corrupt army generals who led the country’s disintegration and gave powers to feudal lords should be hanged publicly, adding that all those generals who caused the country’s disintegration would have to face a situation similar to that in Egypt.

He said that the majority of army generals had become a liability on Pakistan and a burden on the people.

“Our army generals had joined hands with feudal lords, entrepreneurs and elements involved in looting the national exchequer and forged a relationship with these corrupt people, thus constituting one family,” he said, adding that the country had been facing the worst economic crisis and all the people needed to join hands to steer Pakistan out of the present morass.

”Karachi is an economic hub of the country; therefore, peace has to be restored in this city at all costs,” Hussain said and appealed to all the political and religious parties to join the MQM before it was too late to save this country.

He said that the wealthy class had been enjoying all kinds of privileges and was considered as above the law, but if a revolution of middle and poor segments of people came, then those who had looted the country would be held accountable without any discrimination.

Hussain said that negative propaganda was being launched against the MQM only because it raised the voice for the poor and middle class people as well as for getting rid of the inherited political culture of feudal lords.

He said that despite negative propaganda against the party, the MQM had been continuing Jihad against the two percent privileged class of the country.

Referring to the under-trial US citizen, Raymond Davis, the MQM founder said that the US should wait for the court decision and stop putting pressure on Pakistan in this regard.

However, he added that if the US handed over Dr Aafia Siddiqi to Pakistan, his party could request the heirs of the two men killed by Raymond Davis to forgive the US citizen and accept compensation in return.Former test cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz said the country will one day see a prime minister from the the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The former test cricketer, who has recently joined the MQM, said he needed a party which was against corruption, saying he had been attacked in the Punjab Assembly for having raised his voice against corruption.

He said the MQM would now enter the Punjab with a new spirit which would subsequently spread all over the country.

Dr Farooq Sattar said on the occasion that the MQM was emerging as a third option in the politics of the country.

Sarfaraz said he was moved by the love and affection he received during his visit to Nine-Zero on Friday.

He said he had been observing the performance of the MQM for the last four years, raising its voice for the poor and the middle classes and this made him join the party.

Sarfaraz said that the feudal lords had plundered the country, and to get rid of such corrupt elements, the people should come under the flag of the MQM.

He said his leader, Altaf Hussain, wanted a Pakistan that was free from corruption where the people were genuinely empowered.

Last words of Shumaila Kanwal | Wife of man killed by Davis commits suicide

 

" The killer is being treated as a guest at the police station. I need justice and blood for the blood of my husband. I want blood for blood. The way my husband was shot, his killer should be shot in the same fashion, I do not expect any justice from this government That is why I want to kill myself.”

US terms Davis remand illegal

Tribune

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: As a judicial magistrate extended the remand of a US citizen accused of a double murder in Lahore for another eight days on Thursday, the US Embassy has come out and termed the continued detention “illegal.”

The Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate (Cantt courts) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, however, did grant bail to Raymond Davis on charges of carrying an illegal weapon against surety bonds of Rs100,000.

On the other hand, the US Embassy took offence to the proceedings. “This morning, the American diplomat was remanded in court without notice to the US government, without his lawyer present, and without translation assistance. He was denied due process and a fair hearing,” said a statement released by the US Embassy.

For Thursday’s hearing, DSP Old Anarkali Safdar Raza Kazmi produced the accused in handcuffs. Davis was brought in an armoured vehicle from the rear door of the court amid tight security. As a security precaution, Davis was produced before the court at 7.35 am, an hour and a half earlier than normal court timings.

Investigation Officer Inspector Munir Ahmed sought further remand of the accused on the plea that police still have to ascertain the facts of the case. He said that the police had recovered the weapon used in the incident, a 9mm pistol, from the accused. He said that Davis was not cooperating with investigators and refused to answer any questions.

Ahmed said that Davis is unwilling to speak about his accomplices whose vehicle had crushed a third person to  death. “The arrest of other accomplices and recovery of the vehicle will only be possible on Davis’ pointation,” he said.

According to sources, Davis reiterated in court that he had killed the pillion-riders in self-defence and claimed he is entitled to diplomatic immunity.

The US Embassy also reiterated the same stance – in strong words. “The United States Government once again calls upon the Government of Pakistan to abide by its obligations under international and Pakistani law and immediately release the American diplomat illegally detained in Lahore. The US Embassy reiterated to the Government of Pakistan today that his continued detention is a gross violation of international law.”

In other courts

Meanwhile, the Judicial Activism Panel has filed a petition in a district and sessions court, challenging the hearing of Davis’ case being conducted before court timings and outside judicial limits under the pretext of a security risk.

Also, a writ petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking directions that the government prosecute Davis for allegedly committing forgery.

Petitioner Barrister Iqbal Jafree submitted that Davis had obtained a visa under a pseudonym, which made the whole process doubtful and his visa stood cancelled ab initio (from the beginning).

Yet another petition was filed in the LHC, challenging the alleged special treatment being given to Davis.

Petitioner Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry submitted that the authorities were treating the accused as a guest. He alleged that the police produced him an hour earlier than the scheduled time to cheat the bereaved families and their lawyers.

FO’s vague stance

“Let me briefly say that on the Lahore incident, I am not in a position to comment on any aspect,” FO spokesperson Abdul Basit said. “Neither do I have any information to share with you at this stage when the matter, as you all know, is sub judice before the court.”

Basit repeated these comments several times when reporters asked him questions on the issue during a news conference – which was then called off as journalists decided to boycott the proceedings over Basit’s vague comments.

Rana Bakhtiar resigns over dismissal from Davis case

LAHORE: Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) Rana Bakhtiar has tendered his resignation from his post after been dismissed from the Raymond Davis case.

According to the sources, Additional Prosecutor General Abdul Samad has been appointed as official counsel in Raymond Davis case.

It is pertinent to mention here that Rana Bakhtiar was dismissed over his statement given to Geo News that Raymond Davis does not have diplomatic immunity.

Bakhtiar said that he gave the above statement in accordance with the law and record, adding that he tendered his resignation over his dismissal from the Raymond Davis case.

"I am also handing over my official car and gunmen," he added.

Rana Bakhtiar was also investigating the murder case of Justice Javed Iqbal’s parents.

Pakistan judge blocks any move to hand over US gunman

 

LAHORE, Pakistan — A Pakistani judge has blocked any move to hand over to US authorities an American government employee under investigation for double murder, and put his name on the exit control list.

The United States on Monday again called for the release of Raymond Davis, who was arrested after killing two Pakistani motorcyclists in broad daylight in Lahore, saying that he acted in legitimate self-defence.

But a Pakistani lawyer petitioned the Lahore high court under public interest laws to block any move to hand Davis over to the United States.

"I am restraining him (from being handed over to US authorities). Whether he has or does not have (diplomatic) immunity will be decided by the court," ruled Lahore high court chief justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry.

"An order is issued to put his name on the ECL (exit control list). The case is adjourned for 15 days."

Representing the Pakistani government in court in Lahore, deputy attorney general Naveed Inayat Malik, asked the judge to give "time" to the Pakistani foreign ministry to determine whether Davis has diplomatic immunity or not.

Washington says Davis is a member of the US embassy's "technical administrative staff" and therefore entitled to "full criminal immunity".

"He cannot be lawfully arrested or detained in accordance with the Vienna Convention," US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters in Washington.

But the Pakistani lawyer who brought the private petition, Saeed Zafar, has argued that under international law, diplomatic immunity can be waived for the most serious crimes.

Khawaja Haris, the advocate general of Punjab -- the chief law officer in the province where Davis shot the motorcyclists -- told the court that the Vienna Convention provides immunity to diplomats "within certain limits."

"The federal government has to give a certificate on whether the man has diplomatic immunity or not and whether his diplomatic status is confirmed or not," Haris said.

"What we hear about him and his immunity is through the press only. Since he is involved in a grave crime, this issue has to be decided by the court."

But Washington is adamant that Davis is being held unlawfully and supports his version of events that he was confronted by two armed men on motorcycles.

Davis "had every reason to believe that the armed men meant him bodily harm. And minutes earlier, the two men, who had criminal records, had robbed money and valuables at gunpoint from a Pakistani citizen," said Crowley.

When asked by visiting US congressmen on Monday to free Davis, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said: "It would be prudent to wait for the legal course to be completed".

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Altaf Hussain Asks US To Explain Its Position About Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

LONDON: Altaf Hussain Asks US To Explain Its Position About Dr Aafia Siddiqui
Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Mr Altaf Hussain has asked the US Government to explain its position regarding the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He said this in the backdrop of demand by US government to release Raymond Davis seeking diplomatic immunity. "It is for the government of Pakistan to look into the legal and constitutional issues involved but I Altaf Hussain s/o Nazeer Hussain wanted to know as a citizen of Pakistan the position of the US government about releasing Dr Aafia Siddiqui immediately."

Police get 6-day physical remand of Raymond Davis

SAMAA


LAHORE: Senior judge Mehr Zafar Iqbal Sayal handed over detained US national Raymond Davis to police for a six-day physical remand.

Davis,a  staff at the US consulate in Lahore, is facing charges of shooting two persons to death at Mozang market on Thursday.

He was brought to the court amid tight security arrangement.

Moreover, post mortem reports of three victims who were shot and ran over by Davis in a bizarre act of shooting and hitting were released today.

According to the report, Abdul Rehman suffered head and brain injuries after being hit by Davis’ vehicle, which caused his death.

Fahim received four bullets in his stomach, back, legs and head while the third victim, identified as Qamar, also received three bullets each in leg, back and waist.

The dead body of Abdul Rehman has been handed over to his family. Other two dead bodies will be also released anytime soon.