LAHORE – After 33 years a rare opportunity has presented itself to Pakistan to redeem its honour through prosecuting US citizen Raymond Davis, former Finance Minister Mubashar Hassan said speaking to Pakistan Today in an exclusive interview. He said that it was now up to Pakistan to avail this opportunity by denying Raymond Davis diplomatic immunity and trying him at the courts.
This shall raise our prestige amongst the nations of the world, he said. “Pakistan has developed a reputation as a dishonest, client state to America. If the rulers stand firm that our servile and shameless reputation shall be washed away,” he said.
“Bob Woodward’s book Obama Papers states that Pakistan’s leaders are thought to be incompetent, untrustworthy and shameless,” said Dr Mubashar Hassan.
“The US ambassador to Pakistan dared tell Washington that Zardari knows nothing about governance and that “he is our man.” He said that “The idea of catastrophic consequences for not releasing Raymond Davis is false.” He stressed that Pakistan has the capacity to withstand American pressure for the coming years. America has no option as they say in Urdu ” isi Tankhuwaa par kaam karain gey” (‘We shall work on the same pay.’)
He said American agents within the government were trying frighten Pakistan from taking the honorable course of action. “I don’t want to insult rats as a species. Not only are they scared but their prosperity depends on supporting US”, said Dr Mubahsar. He cited the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto saying, “In 1972 the Americans withdrew and did not send an ambassador for two years. Bhutto received no assistance from America. We had no help from IMF and World Bank,” he said.
He said that Pakistan had stood its own legs and become strong. He said that Pakistan’s economic position is now stronger than 1972 and that Pakistan could now raise Rs 4000 billion in taxes against the Rs 13 billion being raised today. He stressed that Pakistan should not lose the historic opportunity it had been presented to free itself from being a client state of the US.
