ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR – Religious and social organisations on Thursday staged protests across the country against the release of Raymond Davis, who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore on January 27. In Islamabad, hundreds of JI workers staged a protest demonstration at Aabpara market, strongly criticising both the PPP and PML-N for releasing the CIA contractor.
The JI called Davis’ release an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and vowed to stage nationwide protests against the government’s facilitation of his release. Addressing the participants, former MNA and JI Islamabad Chapter President Mian Aslam said Davis did not deserve being given a pardon under the cover of Diyat, as he was involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
“A killer can be pardoned under the Diyat law, but a terrorist involved in spying and killing people indiscriminately cannot be freed under this law,” Aslam said. The JI leader said President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif were “two sides of the same coin, as both are puppets for the US”.
“Nawaz sold Aimal Kansi, Benazir Bhutto handed over Yousuf Ramzi to Washington and Pervez Musharraf handed over hundreds of Pakistanis, including Dr Aafia Siddiqui to the US,” he added.
Before Davis’ release, several political and religious parties, including civil society members, had claimed that they would stage countrywide protests in case he was set free, but a few acted upon their statements. Former ISI chief Gen (r) Hameed Gul, his family and a few members of the civil society staged a protest demonstration against Davis’ release.
Gul said Davis’ release was an insult to Pakistan’s public and had damaged the sovereignty and constitution of the country. He said the matter would not be ignored. “We have courts here and people are still hoping for justice,” he said. Also, the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) staged a walk to demand the promulgation of the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002.
Members of the CPDI marched from the National Press Club to D chowk in front of the Parliament House. Rawalpindi Bar Association President Malik Jawad said Davis’ release was the result of non-existence of information law. In Lahore, students of the Punjab University Academic Staff Association staged protests while the Islami Jamiat-e-Talba protested outside the Lahore Press Club.
Protests were also staged in Lakki Marwat, Charsadda, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, Muzaffargarh, Nowshehra and Tamirgara. Political workers from various parties also took to the streets against Davis’ acquittal in Peshawar. Activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, the Jamaat-e-Islami and student unions staged separate demonstrations. They blocked traffic at various places in Peshawar.
