16th March, once again has become a landmark in Pakistani history. Two years ago, this day was the victory day of the public feelings when an Independent Judiciary under Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was restored in the country. Two years later i.e. in 2011, this day will be remembered as ” A Day of Great Shame” when an established US spy and killer of two Pakistani youths was set free against the public feelings by the democratically elected government of Pakistan in a most shady manner.
Raymond Allen Davis, a US CIA contractor who was facing a trial for killing two innocent youths and causing deaths to two others and was not enjoying any diplomatic immunity was set free by Additional District and Session Judge Muhammad Yousaf Aujla on Wednesday, the 16th March,2011 in a most dramatic fashion.
The news of his release was no less than a tsunami for Pakistan. The entire nation was in deep shock and fuming in rage especially when the PM Yousaf Raza Gillani on the floor of the house assured the nation that he would go along with the sentiments of the public in the Raymond Davis case and his trial would be fair.
In fact, John Kerry was also told by a person no less than the President of Pakistan Mr Asif Ali Zardari that the case was sub-judice and that the court will decide. All this drama by the rulers was perhaps for public consumption and in actual fact they had assured the rep of Obama, Mr Kerry, that they would let Raymond free at an appropriate time when the public emotions would subside with time.
His release has proved that our rulers can go to any extent in selling out their conscience under pressure. The remarks of the US Attorney General are still fresh in our minds who once said, “Pakistanis will sell their mothers for 100 dollars”.
The rulers may say any thing to justify his release but one thing is clear that our government did not care for public sentiments and behaved in a most shameful manner in releasing the US Spy who could have revealed many terrorists net works in Pakistan if properly interrogated by our traditional methods of 3rd degree. It is a pity that a criminal who committed grave crimes in our country was given VVIP treatment in detention; was provided special menu, wine and woman( on Valentine Day), lap top and access to outside world in the jail.
I cannot predict the public reaction on his release but one thing is sure that the government has lost its credibility and respect in the public eyes. The rulers and the parliamentarians can not claim that they are public representatives any more. The Federal and the Punjab governments both are responsible for this shameful act.
The only remedy available to the government for their face saving now left is that they should expel all American contract workers from the country within 48 hours declaring them persona non grata. The public must be told the details of the natty gritty deal under which this criminal was not only released but was also flown out of the country within couple of hours.
This shows that everything was pre-planned and the judge had no other option but to set him free and jail authorities were also helpless in completing the release formalities. The jailbird was whisked away very quickly to the waiting aeroplane which took him to the neighbouring country; yet another scene of James Bond Movie.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore
