Raymond Davis Case: Developing Story

[ajtr]

Second American Involved in Lahore Shooting Slips Back to U.S.​

Driver Who Allegedly Killed a Man Racing to Raymond Davis' Aid And His Passenger No Longer In Pakistan, U.S. Official Says​

A Pakistani court has demanded the arrest of a second U.S. official in connection with a deadly shootout in Lahore, Pakistan, last month, but that official, as well another American official involved in the incident, have already slipped out of the country and are back on American soil, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.
The American sought for arrest, who the State Department only identified as a member of the U.S. embassy's staff in Islamabad, Pakistan, was behind the wheel when he struck and killed a bystander while racing to the aid of U.S. "technical advisor" Raymond Davis, who is currently detained in Lahore. Davis is accused of gunning down two Pakistani men in the street on Jan. 27 in what the State Department said was self-defense during a "botched robbery."

The driver of the vehicle held the same diplomatic visa as Davis, U.S. officials told ABC News. Since his arrest, the U.S. argued that Davis should be afforded diplomatic immunity as a member of the embassy's "technical and administrative staff" and released.
Authorities in Punjab said they sent five letters to the U.S. Embassy asking that the driver and vehicle be handed over, but have reportedly received no response. It is unclear when the driver and his passenger were spirited out of Pakistan, but a senior U.S. official said it happened soon after the shooting incident.

Davis is still in a high-security detention center in Lahore and is expected to stay there until a court hearing next month, despite repeated demands by the U.S. -- including from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- that he be released immediately. In a court hearing Thursday, a representative of the Pakistani central government said Pakistani officials are still trying to determine whether Davis qualifies for diplomatic immunity.
Victim's Brother Demands Execution for Raymond Davis
Moments after the court issued its ruling Thursday to hold Davis, the brother of one of the shooting victims addressed the media demanding Davis' execution.

"Our demand from the first day is that we want him hanged, nothing other than this," the man said.

The wife of the same man who was shot committed suicide earlier this month, but not before telling local media she wanted Davis' "blood."

After the hearing, Cameron Munter, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, said he was "disappointed" the Pakistani central government did not certify Davis as a diplomat and release him under diplomatic immunity.

Ever since his arrest, mystery has surrounded the man President Barack Obama called "our diplomat."


In the days after the shooting, the U.S. State Department denied that the man in Pakistani custody was Raymond Davis, despite Pakistani officials, court documents and one source close to Davis saying otherwise. Eventually Davis was revealed to be a member of the embassy's "technical and administrative staff," but the State Department has refused to answer questions about his specific job in Pakistan. When Davis was arrested, he reportedly possessed a loaded gun, GPS equipment, pictures of what Pakistani police called "sensitive areas" of Pakistan, as well as a diplomatic passport.

Public records show Davis has experience with the U.S. Special Forces and runs a small security company that provides "loss prevention specialists," according to the company website which is no longer active.

Complicating matters, several Pakistani officials told ABC News that the men Davis allegedly shot were not small time criminals, but agents of the country's premier intelligence service, the ISI, who had been tracking Davis -- a claim the U.S. government vehemently denies.

Kerry: U.S. Will Open Criminal Investigation Into Shooting
Earlier Wednesday, Sen. John Kerry, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, left Pakistan without Davis after a short trip meant to help smooth over relations between Pakistan and the U.S.

"President Obama and Secretary Clinton have personally asked me to convey to the people of Pakistan our deepest sorrow for the loss of life that occurred there in that tragic incident," Kerry said before leaving the country. "And there is nothing that the United States wants more than to see those kinds of incidents disappear forever in the lives of Pakistanis and in our relationship. I was encouraged today in the meetings that I had in all levels of your government."


Upon landing in the country, Kerry told local media the U.S. Department of Justice would open a criminal investigation into the shooting should Raymond Davis be released.

"I think during the course of Senator Kerry's stay there, we made clear that with such incidents it is practice of the United States government to conduct its own criminal investigation," Crowley told reporters Wednesday. "And we intend to follow that practice here."

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

 

[ajtr]

US may increase Pak aid by 100pc if Davis released​

By Khalid Mustafa
Saturday, February 19, 2011


ISLAMABAD: Washington has not only linked civil and military aid to Pakistan with the ‘respectable’ release of Raymond Davis, the US national and assassin of the two Pakistanis in Lahore, but also has hinted at substantial increase in the aid, may be by 100 percent, under Kerry-Lugar Law from $7.5 billion to $15 billion in five years.

Pakistan has received $300 million this fiscal year so far. After deducting service charges, the $1.5 billion per annum under Kerry-Lugar Law stands at $1.3 billion out of which $650 million will be used through USAID and the remaining $650 million will be sued by the government. This means that our next budget will highly depend upon Kerry-Lugar Law aid, which is being linked to the release of Davis.

According to a senior official of the Finance Ministry, Washington came up with the carrot and stick policy during the visit of Senator John Kerry to Pakistan. Now according to the reports emanating from Washington, Senator John Kerry, who is now back to the US, is facing criticism from US lawmakers, who are exerting pressure to cut aid to Pakistan if Islamabad does not release Raymond Davis.

“The US, largest single voting power in the IMF, can also use its influence to give more tough time to Pakistan and in case it happens so, all international financial institutions including World Bank, ADB and other major donor countries may come up with defiance mode and refuse to bail out Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that World Bank and ADB have already linked their budgetary supports to Pakistan with the letter of comfort,” unveil background interviews of some of top officials.

Pakistan, which is in dire need for massive budgetary support to make budget for the next fiscal of 2011-12, finds no space to make the budget without the external flows as the incumbent regime has failed to increase its tax net base and its proposed RGST has met with failure.

The main political parties have not permitted the government to increase the petroleum prices from December 2010 onwards owing to which the national exchequer has absorbed the hit of Rs13 billion. Likewise, the power tariff subsidy, which has reached Rs95 billion, is estimated to end at Rs139 billion by the end of the current fiscal against the budgeted target of Rs30 billion.

The huge amount which the government is estimated to pump into the loss making public sector enterprises are hovering around Rs300 billion and if the government fails to take any tax measure from March 1, 2011 till June 2011, then the power deficit will certainly surge up to somewhere between 8-8.5 percent. The government has already slashed the development budget by Rs100 billion from Rs280 billion to Rs180 billion, but the financial gurus in the Finance Ministry have decided to contain the financial releases for development projects not more than Rs140 billion. This means that the development budget cut stands at Rs140 billion.

Meanwhile, a proposed meeting between IMF and Pakistan to review the economic outlook of the country scheduled from February 23-24 for seven to eight days in Dubai stands postponed because of the ongoing talks with the PML-N on 10-point reforms agenda and some logistics problems, a senior official told The News.

Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh held a meeting here on Friday evening with regard to a review meeting on economy with IMF in Dubai, but he decided that the meeting would now take place keeping in view the reaction of PML-N after whatsoever results of the February 22 meeting with the PML-N on 10 point agenda.

Both the government and the PML-N will hold the 10th round of talks on reforms agenda in terms of the implementation as the PML-N has decided not to further brainstorm on any of the items of the agenda in the next meeting as it is only interested in mechanism to implement the decisions taken so far on the issues included in the agenda.

The government will fix the next day for a review meeting with the IMF after gauging the PML-N reaction over the result after the February 22 meeting. However, the next meeting will take place some time by the end of the last week of the current month.

 

[Awesome]

The US has acted with criminal intent by aiding the driver who killed Ibad to escape.

 

[Awesome]

Ok Asim, I will agree with your reasoning and the remedy above, if you agree to describing, in a fair and realistic manner, what you see happening if it does indeed come to pass, so that we can discuss it further.

Let's start with law and order, political continuity, and economic situations for Pakistan, both short and long term, and then see where we go for other areas, specifically the regional situation in Afghanistan and India, again short and long term.

I look forward to a great discussion.

I'm not one to hang the government before it actually commits a crime. As representatives of Pakistan, I'm cautiously optimistic that the case will go to trial. From what I've read about the evidence against Davis, I'm expecting a conviction not an acquittal.

What will happen if the Government betrays its own country is hard to say. I'm expecting a massive uprising, removal of the government, a quick and haphazard end to the War on Terror collaboration with America and possibly limiting the American mission in Pakistan down to a sensible level.

I'm the least bit in the mood to entertain the usual panicky OMG OMG OMG attitude of our people about what the US would do if there is a conviction. The right thing is the right thing and will always remain so. A person commits murder, he must pay for it. A state engages in terrorist activities, it must pay for it. At that point the US can point nuclear weapons at Pakistan but we have to just stare them down.

Till we don't stop acting like a phattu nation, we will continue to see terrorist attacks like the one on Salman Taseer, because of all this footing we're giving off a message loud and clear, in Pakistan if you don't agree with something, no need for the judiciary, just use brute force and we Pakistanis would bow down.

After Taseer was killed the first response of the usual "Elite class" was to cower down and not openly denounce that monstrous act. We're a phattu nation, scared of America, scared of Mullahs, scared of freedom, scared of justice.

So focus upon what you need to do, and not worry about "hum yeh kareinge, America woh karega" attitude that has been a signature response to everything in Pakistan for several decades now.

 

[Awesome]

I am secure in my love for both Pakistan and USA, plain and simple!

I'm very secure about my admiration for America and its people as well, as its founded upon the good the nation does. I don't need to be appeasing to America's every wrong whim to show my admiration for them.

 

[charlietophits]

Second American Involved in Lahore Shooting Slips Back to U.S.​

Driver Who Allegedly Killed a Man Racing to Raymond Davis' Aid And His Passenger No Longer In Pakistan, U.S. Official Says​

"President Obama and Secretary Clinton have personally asked me to convey to the people of Pakistan our deepest sorrow for the loss of life that occurred there in that tragic incident," Kerry said before leaving the country. "And there is nothing that the United States wants more than to see those kinds of incidents disappear forever in the lives of Pakistanis and in our relationship. I was encouraged today in the meetings that I had in all levels of your government."


Upon landing in the country, Kerry told local media the U.S. Department of Justice would open a criminal investigation into the shooting should Raymond Davis be released.

"I think during the course of Senator Kerry's stay there, we made clear that with such incidents it is practice of the United States government to conduct its own criminal investigation," Crowley told reporters Wednesday. "And we intend to follow that practice here."

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.

I think that now first of all America should bring manslaughter charges against the diplomat who had run over an innocent bystander. After America does that and gives a suitable sentence, then we can maybe think of handing over davis, but not before

 

[Awesome]

I think that now first of all America should bring manslaughter charges against the diplomat who had run over an innocent bystander. After America does that and gives a suitable sentence, then we can maybe think of handing over davis, but not before

You raise an excellent point, John Kerry said Davis would be tried in the US, lets see the US extradite this Pakistani national or try him in the US, it can be a litmus test to know what can be expected from the US.

 

[Omar1984]

US may increase Pak aid by 100pc if Davis released​

Abhi thak koi Kerry-Lugar paisa ayah Pakistan mein?

Carrot and stick and U.S. is making Pakistan the donkey.

 

[Rig Vedic]

Members of the administrative and technical staff of the mission, together with members of
their families forming part of their respective households, shall, if they are not nationals of or12
permanently resident in the receiving State, enjoy the privileges and immunities specified in articles 29
to 35, except that the immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction of the receiving State specified
in paragraph 1 of article 31 shall not extend to acts performed outside the course of their duties.

Read carefully, Asim: that's only civil and adminstrative jurisdiction. Admin & tech staff retain immunity from criminal jurisdiction.

Any reply to this?

 

[Aslan]

Any reply to this?

Try reading the posts from other members with open mind u will find the answer that you are looking for.

 

[Awesome]

Any reply to this?

Go back and check, it has already been done and in my opinion there are several elements that bring the matter into the purview of Pakistan's Administrative Law, however that determination too will be done by the courts.

 

[DV RULES]

Punjab fears Davis may be killed — even by CIA


Saturday, February 19, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Apprehensions about a possible attempt on the life of Raymond Davis, including even by Americans themselves, have compelled the authorities in Lahore to boost his security and keep him at some distance from the US officials as well.
Fearing that the high profile prisoner may be killed, extraordinary security measures have been undertaken. These measures include limiting physical contact of Davis with even US officials and diplomats.
According to official sources, a directive has been issued to strictly check the food provided to the American killer. “A food committee has been constituted, which would ensure that he is not provided poisoned food in the jail,” a source said.
The source disclosed that the jail authorities had also been directed not to allow Davis any food from outside, including one sent by the US Consulate. “Even chocolates, brought by the US officials, would not be provided to Davis,” the source said, adding that surveillance cameras had also been installed zeroing in on Davis in the Kot Lakhpat Jail.
“We were asked to remove the surveillance cameras, installed to constantly monitor Davis, but we declined to do so because it is critical for his security,” the source said, explaining, “We can’t take any risk, we can’t rule out any possibility, we can’t afford to be lenient in any manner.”
Additionally, it has also been decided to avoid physical contact between Davis and US officials, who visit him as part of consular access facility allowed to him. His visitors would now be allowed to interact with him from across a glass wall, as it happens in the West and the US.
The authorities seriously apprehend that anyone, including US intelligence agencies, might try to kill the man, who despite being a technical assistant has the kind of importance that President Obama had to seek his early release and influential Senator John Kerry rushed to Pakistan and met all the important figures here to take him back to the United States as soon as possible.
Officials here wonder as to what was so special about Raymond Davis that Washington has simply panicked after his arrest. It is said that his activities, his actions, his extraordinary marksmanship, his possessions, including sophisticated weapon, ammunition, GPS, etc, and his physical build-up, show he is not what he claims to be. “Why the United States is so desperate to get him released immediately,” the source asked.
US Embassy Spokesperson Courtney Beale, when asked about the growing apprehensions of Pakistani authorities about the security of Davis and that even suspicions centred around US intelligence agencies, said, “This is ridiculous, and a mere conspiracy theory.
“The US would never ever want any of its diplomats to be killed,” she said, adding that those apprehending such an act from the United States, do not need to fear this. Already, the Punjab government has deployed multiple security cordons, including that of Rangers, at the Kot Lakhpat Jail to pre-empt a possible Hollywood-style sting operation by the US forces to get Raymond Davis released.
The Punjab authorities were apprehending that in sheer frustration, the Americans could conduct a sting operation. Thus they had taken all security measures. The security of Davis has been increased while keeping in mind all possibilities, including an assault on him, a terrorist attack and even a strike by the US commandos to get him forcibly released or killed.


Punjab fears Davis may be killed — even by CIA

 

[VCheng]

AA: I can respect your point of view without agreeing with it, but this is a watershed event no doubt, whatever the outcome. Let's see what happens.

(Thank you for both of your posts above.)

 

[r3alist]

AA: I can respect your point of view without agreeing with it,

jeez, do you get paid for typing that out, some things are implicit.

 

[JonAsad]

Punjab fears Davis may be killed — even by CIA



Punjab fears Davis may be killed — even by CIA

I would like that to happen-- One way or another- he should be punished for his acts of terrorism-