Raymond Davis Case: Developing Story

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The repeated failure to expel personnel caught with illegal weapons could only be interpreted as a signal of Pakistani acquiescence if not quiet encouragement.

Absolutely, and as MK alluded to earlier, the emotions seen over the Davis issue are more of a reflection of the larger sense of grievance Pakistanis feel (in terms of the US flouting Pakistani laws under Musharraf and Zardari to illegally have people extradited, drone strikes, covert operations etc.). And this sense of grievance is directed not just at the US government, but also at Pakistani rulers who aid and abet these actions. Note the unpopularity of Musharraf and Zardari, and the mass protests against the former when people had had enough.

Davis (as a small example of GoP-US policies flouting Pakistani laws) is merely allowing Pakistanis, fed up with all of this, a tangible figure and issue to coalesce around and take out their grievances on.

 

[Awesome]

The Foreign Office is being reshuffled, ostensibly to remove any officials refusing to distort the facts in the Raymond Davis case.

Shake-up in the Foreign Office – The Express Tribune

This 'three week' timeline requested by Zardari and the PPP will be used for working on two tracks to free Davis illegally:

1. Forging the necessary documentation to provide Davis with immunity and/or putting in place pliable officials in the Foreign Office who will lie about Davis having immunity to the court.

2. Working over the families of the victims to make them accept compensation and 'pardon' Davis. We already have reports that threats and coercion are being used to accomplish this, whereas under Islamic law such a pardon is supposed to be voluntary.

No doubt Zardari/Gillani and the PPP would prefer the second option, since it absolves them of taking a position either in support of Davis's immunity or against it.

So far it seems like even Faizan's family is not ready to fold, since 5 cases of dacoity that were done by an Umar are being pinned on Faizan, but the other two, Faheem's family and Ibad's families are pressing on. Granted Faheem's family has lost 2 people and Ibad was just a bystander, crushed to his death.

Hopefully none of this would work.

However the shakeup in the foreign office is what suits the US best. Since that gives the US a clear path to immunity. The American loyal federal government of Pakistan miscalculates that it would survive such a fraud.

I think as long as the pressure is kept upon the federal government they will not be able to present a fake case in the courts. Immunity cannot be that complicated a matter, either they granted it to him upon his arrival in Pakistan or they did not.

 

[Pak_Sher]

The US is very much interested in Mr. Davis's release as much as the Israelis are to date interested in Jonathan Pollard's release. When Chief Spy's get busted, then the country doing the espionage keep pooooping until the spy caught is released, but neither Davis nor Pollard are going anywhere.

 

[Andross]

John kerry said the bottom line is he holds diplomatic status.

 

[Solomon2]

The Foreign Ministry is a part of the federal government. I'm saying the same thing, however the FO itself has deferred this decision to the Judicial system -

The FO can't legally do that since it isn't the usual part of their process. Take a look at Articles 13, 39, and 41: link

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

The US is very much interested in Mr. Davis's release as much as the Israelis are to date interested in Jonathan Pollard's release. When Chief Spy's get busted, then the country doing the espionage keep pooooping until the spy caught is released, but neither Davis nor Pollard are going anywhere.

it should be probed (im sure behind the scenes, it is) why Davis established contacts with banned terrorist organizations

as per news reports, he's fluent in Pashto and Urdu. Commendable, and shady at the same time.

 

[Solomon2]

Actually you badly need to stop talking like we're stupid. This is a case of the American state, involved in -

A person with immunity engaged in disagreeable activities retains his immunity.

I have 47 eyewitnesses witnesses, what have you got?

I'm inclined to agree with American Eagle here.

Security men? Wasn't he IT staff?

So you think the FO granted him immunity by mistake and is trying to cover that up?

 

[Andross]

it should be probed (im sure behind the scenes, it is) why Davis established contacts with banned terrorist organizations

as per news reports, he's fluent in Pashto and Urdu. Commendable, and shady at the same time.

Most security services are asking for other languages even MI5 website wants Pashto/Urdu speakers

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The FO can't legally do that since it isn't the usual part of their process. Take a look at Articles 13, 39, and 41: link

Well, with the case in front of the courts, the FO can't exactly launch an 'operation' to release Davis and not satisfy the court. The FO has to make a statement to the Court that Davis has blanket immunity from prosecution and should be released immediately given Pakistani law.

However, I am uncertain what the impact of petitions challenging such a determination by the FO will be, given that those petitions essentially argue that the FO is fabricating evidence and lying when making such a determination. Can the Courts release Davis if the FO testifies that Davis has blanket immunity, but (the court) also believes that the other petitioners have made a reasonable case of 'fraud and perjury' by the Foreign Office?

 

[Usama86]

I highly recommend viewing 18-2-2011 News Night with Talat Hussain. The whole episode is based on the investigation conducted by the Police and their finding in this case, is very informative and is comming direct from the source because this case will proceed in the courts based on the evidence provided by the police. So whatever is written in the police challan is described very comprehensively. Below is the link for the whole show
News Night with Talat Hussain 18th February 2011

The link below is the last part of the programe which explains why the police thinks this is not a case of self-defence. The driver of the motor bike was shot by RD as he was trying to run from the scene, RD got out of his car and shot this guy in the back twice which is confirmed by the location of the shells found away from the RD's car belonging to his pistol as well as dozens of witnesses including 2 traffic counstables. RD hmself in his statment to the investigators said that the driver ran away as he opened fire in self-defence.
Another IMPORTANT point to note is that RD was trying to run from the scene and the traffic counstable gave him a chase on his bike and was arrested after he was made to pull over. RD also claimed in his statment that the passanger on the motor bike cocked his pistol and pointed it towards him due to which he retaliated, police found out that no bullet was loaded in the chamber of the guns in possesion of the 2 dead men. Its a must watch show but all in Urdu... sad for those who do not understand

Justin.tv - ZemTv.Com - News Night with Talat 2/18/11 - P4

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

So you think the FO granted him immunity by mistake and is trying to cover that up?

There is no evidence the FO granted Davis blanket immunity, at this point.

 

[Awesome]

I did not know about these previous incidents and assuming your description of them is correct I agree with you. The repeated failure to expel personnel caught with illegal weapons could only be interpreted as a signal of Pakistani acquiescence if not quiet encouragement.

In fact Raymond Davis himself was one of the people stopped with weapons, he was kicked out of Peshawar for this purpose because his activities were suspicious:

A time to re-evaluate our ties with America – The Express Tribune

Interestingly, in November 2009 and later in 2010, Davis was caught in restricted military locations in Peshawar and reportedly the Foreign Office verbally asked the US embassy to remove him from Peshawar. Proper interrogation of Davis is essential now for Pakistan to discover the linkages with a range of suspected US covert activities.

He was already suspected of being supportive of terrorists or at least of being a spy and this is a matter of record and now that we know he has made calls to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi - which is stated by the police after reviewing his phone records, it just assures the US - TTP link that has been speculated.

Of course there may be some big misunderstanding and you all will get your time in court

 

[TruthSeeker]

This case has reached the point that, IMHO, both sides should now let Pakistani justice take it's course. Mr. Davis should never have killed those two men. He was totally wrong in his behavior on many, many levels. And diplomatic immunity should not be used as a cloak to protect scoundrels. The USA should voluntarily waive any claim to diplomatic immunity for Mr. Davis. The US State Department should now content itself with providing Mr. Davis the best legal representation that can be had and let Pakistan's Courts sort out the matter. As far as trading him for Aafia, that could realistically only come after Davis is convicted and sentenced. So, the best way out of this now is for Pakistan to bend over backwards to give Mr. Davis a speedy and transparently fair trial and let the chips fall where they may. Mr. Davis deserves all the anguish he is in. He brought it on himself.

 

[Pak_Sher]

it should be probed (im sure behind the scenes, it is) why Davis established contacts with banned terrorist organizations

as per news reports, he's fluent in Pashto and Urdu. Commendable, and shady at the same time.

Please go back few pages and you will see the videos ASIM AQUIL have posted and when they confiscated his camera he was photographing Military installtions and the Wagha Border. He looks like a CIA Agent causing trouble in Pakistan.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

if it is proven that he engaged in espionage, that would have extremely serious ramifications